@GWUBaseball  |  Game InfoGraphic  |  @BigSouthBase

BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb used a six-run third inning to break the game open and went on to a 21-2 win over Charleston Southern Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference action.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (28-14, 7-7 Big South) clinched the series in the process to even its league record. Gardner-Webb rapped out 23 hits and went 10-for-23 with runners in scoring position on the afternoon.

A two-run home run by Danny Sullivan in the first inning – a line shot to left field – set the tone early. Taylor Fisher drove in a run with an RBI single in the third to put the 'Dogs up 3-0, before Charleston Southern (15-25, 3-11 Big South) answered.

A leadoff walk to Cole German and a passed ball created momentum and Nate Blanchard ripped a double inside the bag at first base to trim the lead to 3-1. Gardner-Webb starter Jeremy Walker allowed an infield single that moved Blanchard to third base with one away and Sly Edwards walked to load the bases – but Walker got a fly ball to right and a strikeout to end the inning with the lead intact.

Gardner-Webb put the game away in the third. Collin Thacker collected his second single of the day, Sullivan legged out a chopper to shortstop and Patrick Graham sliced a single into center to load the bases quickly. A bases loaded walk to Paul Trick made the score 4-1 and Tyler Best dropped a two-run double inside the third base line for a 6-1 advantage. Jacob Walker poked an RBI single into center and Best scored on a throwing error from third for the eighth run of the day. A safety squeeze bunt by Taylor Fisher pushed the lead to 9-1 before CSU starter Daniel Johnson could retire the side.

Gardner-Webb scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth inning and added four more in the sixth to go up 17-1. A two-run double by Blair Huggins in the sixth powered that inning, with Chandler Redmond delivering a pinch hit, two-run single as well.

Charleston Southern plated another run in the top of the seventh, getting a walk from German and a sacrifice fly by Blanchard to trim the lead to 17-2. The Runnin' Bulldogs pushed across four more runs in the bottom of the seventh for what would be the final margin.

Gage Parham roped a two-run double into right center with the bases loaded for a 19-2 edge and Chris Clary singled through the right side with the bases loaded to put the 'Dogs up 20-2. Evan Hyatt then drew a bases loaded pass for the final score of the afternoon.

Walker (6-4) was strong for the second week in a row, pitching 6.0 innings and allowing just one run. He struck out eight, walked two and scattered six hits. Patrick Morton and Andrew Massey each worked scoreless frames to close out the game from the bullpen, with both recording one strikeout with no hits allowed.

Gardner-Webb had 16 different batters reach base and 13 collect hits in the game. Thacker (5-for-5, 4 runs), Sullivan (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), Graham (3-for-4, 2 runs), Trick (2-for-2, 2 RBI) and Best (2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI) each collected multiple safeties before exiting the game. Fisher (1-for-3, 2 RBI), Will Canady (1-for-2, run), Huggins (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Parham (1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI), Redmond (1-for-1, 2 RBI), Clary (1-for-2, RBI), Walker (1-for-5, 2 RBI) and Simmons (1-for-4, 2 runs) also had hits for GWU.

Charleston Southern used six different pitchers Saturday, with Johnson (4-4) taking the loss on the mound. He allowed nine hits, seven earned runs and walked two in 2.0 innings of work.

The Buccaneers had six hits on the day, with Blanchard (2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI) leading that effort. Ryan Maksim (1-for-4), Edwards (1-for-2), Chris Singleton (1-for-3) and Mike Sconzo (1-for-2) also had hits on Saturday afternoon.

The game lasted nearly three hours (2:41).

The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm and will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com).