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BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb plated four runs in the second inning and led 6-0 after four to spark a 6-3 win over Furman Tuesday night at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (19-5) got a strong pitching performance from starter Andrew Massey (3-1), who worked deeper Tuesday than any previous career appearance – hurling 8.1 innings and allowing just two runs while scattering seven hits. The Eldersburg, Md., righty fanned seven and did not issue a walk to the Paladins (8-12).

Gardner-Webb took the led for good in the second. Freshman speedster Mason Fox roped a double into left with two outs and scored when Paul Trick dumped a ball into shallow right for two bags. The Paladins got out of the jam, but trouble waited just around the corner.

Tyler Best led off the third inning by legging out a double to right and moved to third on a long fly ball by Collin Thacker. Patrick Graham reached on a throwing error that allowed Best to score for a 2-0 lead and Eric Jones coaxed a five-pitch walk to keep the rally going.

Fox stepped in with another big hit, ripping a line drive double to left center to drive home both Graham and Jones for a 4-0 advantage. Fox then stole third base with ease and trotted home for a 5-0 lead when the throw down skipped into left field.

Best led off the fourth inning as well, and singled back up the middle. He stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored for a 6-0 lead on Graham's single to left. Jones followed with a single of his own, but Furman would end the threat with a fielder's choice.

Massey had settled in nicely by then and retired 15 batters in a row from the third through the eighth inning. Andrew MacLatchie finally broke up that string, belting a double to left field with one away in the eighth. Massey recovered, rolling a pair of ground balls to end the inning.

Furman finally got on the board in the top of the ninth, as a line drive double by Sky Overton was followed by a hard double down the line by Josh Simpson. A ground ball moved Simpson to third base and Massey exited with his pitch count sitting at career-high 97. Simpson scored on an RBI groundout to trim the lead to 6-2 and Landon Kay left the yard with a two-out solo home run that would be the final score of the game.

Gardner-Webb had eight hits in the game, with Fox (2-for-4, 2 2B, SB, 2 runs), Best (2-for-4, 2B, 2 runs) and Trick (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) leading the way. Graham (1-for-4, 2 RBI) and Jones (1-for-3, run) also had hits for the 'Dogs.

Furman also had eight hits, with three coming in the final inning. Jabari Richards (2-for-4) and Kay (2-for-4, HR, RBI) each had two of those base knocks.

Starter Harry Norman (1-2) took the loss, allowing five runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks in 3.0 innings of work. Four different relievers worked the rest of the way, with the final three tossing one shutout innings each – and limiting GWU to just one hit in the final three innings.

Gardner-Webb will open Big South Conference play at home Thursday night, hosting Presbyterian at 6:00 pm.