CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern scored four runs on six hits in the seventh inning Sunday, rallying for a 4-3 win over Gardner-Webb at CSU Ballpark.

Gardner-Webb (17-19, 5-10 Big South) lost for the eighth consecutive time in Big South play, with seven of those losses coming by three runs or less. Sunday marked the third one-run loss for GWU in the past seven days.

Starter Mitch Warner was solid on the mound for Gardner-Webb early, settling in to keep the Buccaneers (16-18, 6-6 Big South) off the board until the seventh.

Gardner-Webb took the lead with a burst of its own in the third inning, getting a leadoff double from J.D. Huggins and an RBI single off the bat of classmate Luke Kaesmeyer for a 1-0 advantage. A sacrifice bunt by Blair Huggins moved Kaesmeyer into scoring position, and Ryan Hodge delivered with an RBI knock to center and a 2-0 lead. Hodge then manufactured a run himself, stealing second, moving to third on a passed ball and racing home on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.

Warner found himself in trouble in the fourth inning, as Charleston Southern collected three singles to load the bases with one out. The Chambersburg, Pa., southpaw worked out of the jam with his defense, getting a force out on a grounder at the plate and an inning-ending ground ball to third.

The Runnin' Bulldogs had a chance to add to their 3-0 lead in the top of the seventh, getting a one-out single from Patrick Graham and a walk from J.D. Huggins. Both men moved into scoring position on a Kaesmeyer ground ball, but Charleston Southern closer Dennis Buckley came on to induce a ground ball out to end the threat.

The Bucs wasted little time rallying in the bottom half, with the top of its order igniting the spark.

Leadoff man Nate Blanchard singled through the right side and Sam Remick followed with his own single to right. Andrew Widell popped up to second to slow the charge and Warner appeared to be out of harm's way when he got cleanup man Chris Singleton to fly out to left field for the second out.

Gardner-Webb made the call to the bullpen, but reliever Brad Haymes was greeted with an RBI single from Chase Shelton to cut the lead to 3-1. Cole Murphy then oped a 2-1 pitch into right center to cut the lead to 3-2 and Brian Dye singled home Shelton to tie the game.

Bradley Hallman came on for Gardner-Webb after that swing and saw pinch hitter Jack Crittenberger record Charleston Southern's fourth consecutive single – and RBI knock to left that drove home Murphy for a 4-3 lead. Hallman struck out Brandon Burris to end the surge, but the damage was done.

Buckley took care of things from there, setting down Gardner-Webb in order in both the eighth and the ninth to seal the game.

Haymes (1-2) was saddled with the loss out of the pen, allowing two runs on three hits in the seventh. Warner worked 6.2 innings in a no decision start, allowing two runs on nine hits with four strikeouts (no walks).

Gardner-Webb had five hits in the game, with J.D. Huggins going 2-for-2 with a walk and run scored to lead the way.

Buckley (1-2) picked up his first win of the season out of the bullpen, hurling 2.1 perfect frames for the Buccaneers. Righty Kyle McDorman took a no decision, starting and allowing two earned runs in 6.2 innings of work. He allowed five hits, walked three and fanned three.

Charleston Southern collected six of its 14 hits in the decisive seventh inning. Shelton finished the day with a perfect 4-for-4 line at the plate and Murphy followed him in the order with a 3-for-4 day.

Remick (2-for-5) and Dye (2-for-3) also had multi-hit performances.

Gardner-Webb will step out of conference next week, traveling to face Clemson on Wednesday (April 15) at 6:30 pm and hosting Southern Conference member VMI on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.