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BOILING SPRINGS – Brad Haymes tossed a four-hit shutout Friday night and Gardner-Webb used a six-run burst in the ninth inning to pull away for a 9-0 win over High Point in a key Big South Conference series opener.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (24-13, 4-6 Big South) improved to 21-4 at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field this season, rapping out nine hits and going a solid 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

Haymes was efficient once again in his fifth complete game effort of the season. In his last four starts on his home mound, Haymes has gone 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA, four complete games, two shutouts and 42 strikeouts in 36.0 innings (three walks).

Gardner-Webb gave him plenty of support early.

The 'Dogs struck for two quick runs in the first, taking advantage of a leadoff double from freshman catcher Justin Kunz. After Kunz moved to third on a pair of ground balls, Collin Thacker came through with an RBI single to left for a 1-0 lead.

Danny Sullivan moved Thacker up a base when he was plunked on the first pitch he saw and Patrick Graham roped a single up the middle for a 2-0 lead before High Point starter Scot Hoffman worked out of the jam with a fly ball.

Haymes settled in for Gardner-Webb on the mound and pitched around severe trouble in the fourth. Josh Greene reached on an error to lead off that inning and a hit-and-run single by Dominic Fazio through the right side put men on the corners with no outs. Haymes responded with three swinging strikeouts to get his team back into the dugout.

The GWU offense collected some insurance after the seventh inning stretch, taking advantage of back-to-back walks to chase Hoffman from the game with one out. Paul Trick worked the count even after falling behind early and tripled to the fence in left center – driving home Matt Simmons and Justin Kunz for a 4-0 lead.

Another walk to Sullivan loaded the bases and Graham hammered a 1-1 pitch deep over the left field fence for a grand slam and an 8-0 lead. It was the first grand slam since Benji Jackson went deep with the bases loaded on February 17, 2012 against Maryland-Eastern Shore.

The 'Dogs added to their lead in the eighth, getting a leadoff double down the line from Mason Fox and another double from Matt Simmons that produced a 9-0 lead.

Haymes (7-1) tied his career high with 12 strikeouts, walked just one and scattered four hits. He limited the Panthers to an 0-for-7 effort with runners in scoring position and a 1-for-10 night with men on base. The Tightsqueeze, Va., native needed only 122 pitches to get through the game and produced nine ground ball outs.

Eight different Gardner-Webb batters collected at least one hit, with Graham (2-for-3, HR, 5 RBI) leading the charge. The 'Dogs were clutch for much of the night, collecting six two-out RBI.

Hoffman (3-3) took the loss for High Point, despite settling down after a rocky first inning. The big righty scattered five hits, allowed four runs and fanned four batters (three walks) in 6.1 innings of work. Joe Goodman came on to work the final 1.2 innings out of the pen.

High Point (22-13, 7-3 Big South) had four hits, with Hunter Lee (2-for-4, 2B) the lone man with more than one. Chris Clare (1-for-4, SB) and Fazio (1-for-2) also had safeties for the Panthers.

The two teams will be back in action quickly, with the second game of the series set to begin Saturday at 2:00 pm. The contest will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com).