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BOILING SPRINGS – Collin Thacker went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and Gardner-Webb rapped out 11 hits to take a 5-2 win over Charleston Southern Sunday afternoon.

It marked the first Big South series sweep for Gardner-Webb (29-14, 8-7 Big South) at home since April, 2014 against Longwood. It also pushed the Runnin' Bulldogs back above .500 in league play.

Tyler Best's two-out single in the bottom of the first provided an early lift and Thacker's ringing double off the base of the scoreboard in right center plated Best for a 1-0 advantage.

Charleston Southern (15-26, 3-12 Big South) proved feisty in the middle innings, however, seizing its first lead of the weekend with a pair of runs in the fourth. Back-to-back walks to Sly Edwards and Chris Singleton came back to bite the 'Dogs, as Mason McClellan singled to right to load the sacks with no outs. Mike Sconzo drove home Edwards with a one-out single and Ryan Maksim drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Buccaneers a 2-1 lead.

Gardner-Webb starter Bradley Hallman worked out of the jam, getting a strikeout and a slow roller to second, and saw his team tie the game in the bottom half.

After Best grounded out to start the fourth, Thacker, Danny Sullivan and Patrick Graham each collected singles to load the bases. Paul Trick coaxed a four-pitch walk to drive in Thacker – the second time in three days Trick had an RBI base on balls – before reliever Cody Maw came on to get a pair of quick outs to strand three runners.

Hallman battled hard in the fifth, erasing Brandon Burris' leadoff double by sandwiching a shallow fly ball between a pair of ground balls.

The 'Dogs gave Hallman a lead in the bottom half of the fifth, with Taylor Fisher legging out a triple to lead off. Justin Kunz followed with a sacrifice fly to right and Fisher trotted home safely for a 3-2 lead.

Closer Wil Sellers came on with one out in the sixth with on man on base and rolled a ground ball – nearly a double play – to settle things. He came back with a strikeout on a full count to end the inning.

Gardner-Webb added an insurance run in the seventh, when Fisher was hit by a pitch with one away. He took off for second and stole the bag even as a balk was called on the delivery home – then stole third. Kunz hammered a long double to right that nearly left the yard for a 4-2 lead before the CSU bullpen could get out of the inning.

Sellers cruised through the eighth and Patrick Graham provided the final layer of insurance when he belted a 2-1 fastball deep to left center for his second home run of the season and a 5-2 lead.

Sellers needed only six pitches to retire the Buccaneers in the ninth to finish the game.

Hallman (5-3) picked up the win, working 5.1 innings, allowing two runs and striking out three. He scattered six hits and pitched around four walks. Sellers earned his ninth save of the season, working 3.2 innings without allowing a hit. He walked one and struck out three, throwing 54 pitches after not seeing action in either of the first two games of the weekend.

Thacker (2-for-3, 2B, RBI), Best (2-for-4) and Graham (2-for-4, HR, RBI) each had a pair of hits for Gardner-Webb. Fisher (1-for-3, 3B, 2 runs, 2 SB), Kunz (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Sullivan (1-for-4), Trick (1-for-3, 2B, RBI) and Matt Simmons (1-for-4) also had hits for Gardner-Webb.

Maw (0-2) took the loss in relief for Charleston Southern, as the Bucs used five relievers to finish out the game. Starter Evan Nations had a no decision, scattering six hits and allowing two runs in 3.1 innings pitched.

Charleston Southern had six hits on the day, with McClellan (2-for-4, RBI) and Sconzo (2-for-4, RBI) leading that effort.

Gardner-Webb will wrap up its seven-game home stand on Wednesday, hosting Southern Conference leader Western Carolina at 6:00 pm. The game will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com).