BOILING SPRINGS – Ryan Hodge darted home on a passed ball in the bottom of the eighth, capping a quick rally for Gardner-Webb in a 4-3 win over UNC Greensboro Friday night.

Gardner-Webb (22-31) scored two runs in the eighth, both coming without the benefit of a hit. Three walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball doomed the Spartans (22-24) in the frame.

Both teams used the long ball to score early.

Tyler Best hammered a solo shot to right in the third inning, taking a pitch deep over the fence for a 1-0 lead – Best's third home run of the season.

UNC Greensboro answered with a home run of its own, a solo bomb off the bat of Collin Woody, to tie the score in the top of the fourth. It was Woody's 10th round-tripper of the season.

Not to be outdone, sophomore Paul Trick stepped in with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and ripped his first career home run over the fence in left to give Gardner-Webb its lead back.

The Spartans wasted no time retaking the lead, however, getting a leadoff double in the fifth from Tripp Shelton and a bunt single from Zach Almond to put men on the corners. Almond then stole second and leadoff man Hunter King dumped a two-run single into left for a 3-2 lead.

Erik Heiligenstadt came out of the bullpen to work out of the jam, and neither team would score again until Gardner-Webb scratched two runs across in the eighth.

After Gardner-Webb moved ahead in the late innings, Beau Hilton stayed on to close out the game for his first win of the season.

Hilton (1-1) worked 1.1 innings out of the pen, fanning three in a brilliant relief effort. Stephen Gilmore started and worked a scoreless first inning for Gardner-Webb, which saw its 10 seniors take Bill Masters Field for the final time Friday.

Matt Fraudin made his first relief appearance of the season, fanning five and allowing three runs in 3.2 innings of work. Heiligenstadt worked 3.0 scoreless innings and allowed just three hits.

Gardner-Webb had four hits in the game, with Ryan Hodge (2-for-3) closing out his career in outstanding fashion. Best (1-for-3, HR, RBI) and Trick (1-for-2, HR, RBI) had the other two hits.

UNC Greensboro had 10 hits in the game, with Woody posting a 3-for-4 effort with a run scored and an RBI. Tyler Long (2-for-4) and Shelton (2-for-4) also had a pair of hits for the Spartans.

Keaton Haack (0-1) took the loss out of the pen, lasting 0.1 inning and allowing two runs (one earned) on three walks.

Gardner-Webb's season is complete.