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BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb rapped out nine hits, including three home runs, to power an 8-4 win over visiting Charlotte Tuesday night at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (26-14) got a two-run shot from Justin Kunz in the bottom of the first to take the lead for good and used solo shots from Danny Sullivan and Collin Thacker to keep their distance from the 49ers (16-22).

Taylor Fisher singled to lead off the bottom of the first, slashing a first-pitch fastball into right field. Kunz took a ball, then smashed the second pitch he saw over the fence in left center to seize momentum quickly and take a 2-0 lead.

Charlotte answered with a run in the third, getting a one-out double from Reece Hampton to start a brief surge. Hampton stole third on a strikeout, then scored on a passed ball to trim the lead to 2-1. T.J. Nichting followed with his own two-out double, but Gardner-Webb starter Ryan Boelter worked out of the inning with his lead intact.

Gardner-Webb grew its lead in the bottom half of the third, with Blair Huggins coaxing a five-pitch walk and Fisher following by reaching on an error as he attempted to bunt Huggins into scoring position. Kunz singled through the left side to load the bases and Thacker nearly left the yard – settling for a ringing double off the fence in center that pushed the lead to 4-1. Charlotte reliever Phillip Perry then came on to record a pair of strikeouts and limit the damage.

The two teams traded runs in the fifth, with Charlotte's Hunter Jones leading off with a triple and scoring on an infield single to third by Hampton. Gardner-Webb got the run back in the bottom half when Sullivan launched a high solo home run to left center to go up 5-2.

The Runnin' Bulldogs started to pull away in the sixth, plating a pair of runs after Paul Trick was hit by a pitch to lead off and Matt Simmons singled into right. A sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position and a walk to Fisher loaded the bases. Kunz laced an RBI single into right to push the lead to 6-2 and Tyler Best drove home Simmons with a sacrifice fly to center for an 8-2 advantage.

Charlotte wouldn't go quietly, as Gardner-Webb went to its bullpen to start the eighth inning.

Three consecutive singles – by Brett Netzer, Logan Sherer and Nichting – loaded the bases on just six pitches, forcing Gardner-Webb to go quickly to closer Wil Sellers with the tying run on deck and nobody out. Sellers limited the damage, but Drew Ober drove in a run when he legged out a fielder's choice to prevent a double play – and Zach Jarrett trimmed the lead to 7-4 with a sacrifice fly. Best prevented any further scoring when he dove to rob Derek Gallello on a hard line drive to center for the third out.

Thacker added an insurance run in the eighth, scorching a solo home run just inside the foul pole in left for the final margin.

Sellers retired the 49ers in order in the ninth to close the door.

Boelter (2-0) picked up the win, pitching well in just the second start of his career. The South St. Paul, Minn., senior worked a career-best 7.0 innings, scattered six hits and fanned four while allowing only two runs. In his two career starts – each coming in the last seven days – Boelter has allowed just eight hits and two runs in 12.0 innings.

Sellers worked 2.0 scoreless innings to pick up his eighth save of the season.

Kunz (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) led Gardner-Webb's offense, with Thacker (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) also enjoying a multi-hit evening. Thacker's two-run double in the third was his national-best 20th of the season. Sullivan's long ball was his team-best sixth of the season.

Charlotte's Drew Morrison (0-1) took the mound loss Tuesday, working 2.1 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits. Five different pitchers worked for the 49ers.

Hampton (2-for-5, 2B, RBI), Sherer (2-for-3) and Nichting (2-for-4, 2B) had six of Charlotte's nine hits in the game.

Gardner-Webb will continue its seven-game home stand when it hosts Charleston Southern on Friday night to begin another important Big South Conference series. The game will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com).