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BOILING SPRINGS – Brad Haymes fanned 12 batters over 8.0 strong innings Friday and Gardner-Webb topped Rider, 6-1, to improve to 10-0 on the season.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (10-0) scored single runs in each of the first three innings, plated two in the fifth and another in the sixth to begin the four-game series against the Broncs (0-5) in solid fashion.

Haymes (2-0) scattered nine hits – including five infield singles – and did not issue a walk in striking out a career-high total Friday. The Tightsqueeze, Va., native and former closer also worked a career-best 8.0 innings (104 pitches).

Gardner-Webb had four RBI with two outs in the game and started the scoring on Paul Trick's two-out single to center in the bottom of the first. Trick moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on Collin Thacker's RBI single for an early lead.

Patrick Graham laced a single to right with one out in the second, moved to second on another failed pickoff attempt and scored on Blair Huggins' two-out RBI single through the left side.

After Rider plated a run in the top of the third, Gardner-Webb answered quickly. A two-out walk to Thacker in the bottom half proved fruitful, as Danny Sullivan hammered an 0-1 fastball deep to left center for an RBI double and a 3-0 lead.

After a pair of singles to lead off the fifth for the Runnin' Bulldogs, Rider was able to slow the momentum with a pair of ground balls – but Sullivan laced another two-out, RBI single up the middle to push the lead to 4-1. Thacker scored the fifth run of the game on a passed ball moments later.

Graham doubled to lead off the sixth inning and scored on Taylor Fisher's RBI single through the left side for what would be the final score of the game.

Haymes fanned three more batters in the seventh and eighth to finish his day in style. Peyton McGuire came on for the ninth and finished the game.

Gardner-Webb had 12 hits on the day, led by Sullivan (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Graham (2-for-4, 2B, 2 runs) and Fisher (2-for-4, RBI). Trick (1-for-4, run), Thacker (1-for-3, 2 runs, RBI), Jacob Walker (1-for-2) and Huggins (1-for-4, RBI) also had hits for the 'Dogs.

Nick Margevicius (0-2) took the mound loss for Rider, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings of work.

The Broncs had nine hits in the game. Jake Bender (2-for-4), Dalton Mayberry (2-for-4) and Brian Uliana (2-for-4) led that effort. The run scored by Rider in the top of the third inning came Uliana singled to lead off, moved to second on a wild pitch – then scored from third on a wild pitch two batters later.

The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at Noon. Live stats will be available via StatBroadcast (GWUStats.com).