BOILING SPRINGS – Ryan Hodge went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and two stolen bases to lead Gardner-Webb to a 9-3 win over North Carolina A&T Wednesday night.

Hodge (Matthews, N.C. / Butler HS) hit his third home run of the season in the third inning, driving home Henry Rundio with that blast – which narrowly missed the field house beyond right field.

Gardner-Webb (19-22) scored two runs in the first with Rundio leading off the inning with a single and pulling off a double steal after Hodge was hit by a pitch. Collin Thacker's groundout plated Rundio and Sam Fulginiti's double to dead center drove in Hodge.

Jacob Walker started Gardner-Webb's rally in the second, earning a walk and stole second before scoring on Rundio's RBI double to left. Hodge followed with a bunt single and stole second, then Thacker walked to load the bases. Rundio scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead, then Fulginiti plated Hodge with a sacrifice fly. Patrick Graham capped the rally with an RBI single to drive home Thacker, and GWU held a comfortable 6-0 lead.

North Carolina A&T (6-32) got on the board in the third when Brandon Mitchell led off with a double to right center an scored on Brandon Wilkerson's second two-bagger of the game. Gardner-Webb starter Jeremy Walker quickly recovered, getting a ground ball and strikeout to end the inning with Wilkerson stranded on third.

The Runnin' Bulldogs pushed their lead to 8-1 in the third after Rundio walked and Hodge fought off three foul balls before belting his long ball to right.

The Aggies answered in the fifth, getting a man on board via a base on balls before Dylan Hipp ripped a two-run home run to right center – trimming the lead to 8-3. Wilkerson and Milton Rivera followed with sharp singles, but Walker worked through the rough patch to finish the inning with his team in front by five runs.

Graham closed out the scoring in the sixth, hitting a two-out, solo home run deep to left for a 9-3 advantage.

Walker (2-3) picked up the win, allowing three runs on seven hits through 5.0 innings of work. He fanned four and walked one in the start. Stephen Gilmore (1.0 IP), Andrew Massey (0.2 IP), Landon Letchworth (0.1 IP), Ryan Boelter (1.0 IP) and Bradley Hallman (1.0 IP) closed out the game without any runs allowed by the bullpen.

Hodge (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 3 runs), Rundio (2-for-2, 2 SB, 3 runs) and Graham (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) combined for six of Gardner-Webb's eight hits Wednesday. Fulginiti (1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI) and Matt Simmons (1-for-3) also had base knocks in the game.

Evan Miranda (0-6) took the loss for A&T, allowing six runs on six hits in just 1.2 innings pitched. The Aggies used eight pitchers in the game.

Wilkerson (3-for-5, 2 2B, RBI) led the offensive attack for North Carolina A&T, which produced eight hits.

Gardner-Webb will be back in action on Friday night at Liberty. The Big South Conference tilt will begin at 7:00 pm in Lynchburg, Va. The game is set to air live on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com).