BOILING SPRINGS – Jeremy Walker hurled 7.0 shutout innings and Gardner-Webb's offense came alive for a 9-0 win over Delaware State in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Danny Sullivan's solo home run to lead off the second started the scoring, and Gardner-Webb (2-0) scored single runs in each inning from the second to the sixth to take control of the game.

Sullivan drove in his second run of the day with an RBI groundout in the third inning for a 2-0 lead, and the 'Dogs took of two errors in the fourth to get Blair Huggins home to go up by three runs.

Paul Trick led off the fifth with a sharp single up the middle, stole second with one out and scored on Patrick Graham's hard single through the right side for a 4-0 lead. Huggins got things started in the sixth with a leadoff single and moved into scoring position on Taylor Fisher's sacrifice bunt.

Trick followed with a two-out single up the middle for a 5-0 lead, collecting his second hit of the game. Singles from Jacob Walker and Huggins fueled a rally in the eighth that led to four runs and the Hornets' pitching staff helped out by walking in four runs with two outs and the bases loaded for what wound up the final margin.

Walker (1-0) exerted great control early and cruised, scattering five hits and fanning five batters with one walk. All five hits were singles and three came in the form of infield singles.

Peyton McGuire and Jarrett Thompson each worked a scoreless inning of relief, with Thompson fanning a pair in the ninth to end the game.

Gardner-Webb collected 14 hits in the game, with Huggins (3-for-4, 3 runs, RBI), Mason Fox (2-for-5, run, SB), Trick (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Collin Thacker (2-for-3, RBI) and Walker (2-for-4, run) enjoying multi-hit games.

Travis Dill (0-1) took the loss for the Hornets, lasting 3.1 innings and allowing two runs on four hits with three walks. Delaware State used five pitchers in the game.

The Hornets collected eight hits, all singles, with Kwestin Smith going 3-for-4 at the dish.