BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Southpaw Erik Heiligenstadt allowed just one run through 6.0 innings of strong mound work and Gardner-Webb scored a pair of runs in the third inning to beat Cornell, 2-1, in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

The Runnin' Bulldogs managed just three hits in the game, and got all three in the decisive third inning. Will Canady led off with a single up the box and moved up a base on Jacob Walker's chopper through the left side.

Henry Rundio followed with a slicing double inside the line in right field, plating Canady easily from second. Tyler Best was plunked to put another man on board and Ryan Hodge scored Walker from third on a sacrifice fly to left. A long fly ball by Sam Fulginiti was run down by the Big Red in right for the second out – and Rundio was caught in a run down at third to end the inning.

Cornell would plate its lone run in the sixth, getting an infield single from Dan Morris to lead things off. A single through the right side by Spencer Scorza moved Morris to third with one out and Ryan Karl cut the lead to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly to the opposite field in left.

Heiligenstadt would keep his lead intact, however, getting a ground ball to end the frame.

Reliever Bradley Hallman worked through the seventh and the eighth without damage, scattering a pair of hits and hard-throwing southpaw Ryan Boelter came on for the ninth to record his first save of the season, fanning a pair of batters.

Cornell starter Brian McAfee (0-1) worked 5.0 innings and allowed only two runs in a tough decision and southpaw relief man Nick Busto came on for 3.0 hitless innings of relief to keep the Big Red within striking distance.

The Big Red had eight hits in the game, with Scorza (3-for-4) and Karl (2-for-3, RBI) doing much of the damage in the middle of the lineup.

Heligenstadt (1-0) scattered five hits and struck out five (no walks) for the mound win.