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CONWAY, S.C. – Gardner-Webb scored four runs in the top of the eighth and had the tying run on deck in the ninth, but #21 Coastal Carolina withstood the late charge to win, 10-6, and complete the three-game sweep.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (21-10, 2-4 Big South) have lost four games in a row for the first time all season.

Unlike the series' first two games – which saw Gardner-Webb take early leads – the Chanticleers (20-9, 5-1 Big South) jumped on top early Sunday. Coastal took a 1-0 lead in the second and used a four-run surge in the third to take control.

The Chanticleers had only two hits in the frame, taking advantage of three walks and a hit batter to fuel the third-inning rally. They took a 2-0 lead when Zach Remillard drew a bases loaded walk and went up 3-0 when Michael Paez scored on a double play. Billy Cooke capped it with a two-run single to center.

Gardner-Webb got on the board in the fifth, loading the bases itself with no outs – using a pair of Coastal walks to get things going. Mason Fox drove in GWU's first run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing the Chanticleers to go to the bullpen.

Andrew Beckwith entered and quickly recorded a strikeout, but Tyler Best cut the lead to 5-2 with an RBI single to center. Beckwith got out of the jam, however, rolling a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

The Chanticleers answered with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, getting a two-run home run from Connor Owings after Remillard drew his second walk of the game. Coastal plated three runs in the seventh to stake itself to a comfortable 10-2 lead.

Gardner-Webb would not go away quietly, touching the Coastal bullpen in the eighth.

Best led off with a single to center and moved to third on Danny Sullivan's double to left. An infield single by Collin Thacker plated Best, but the Chanticleers appeared to halt the rally with a ground ball and strikeout.

Pinch hitter Jacob Walker kept the rally alive, belting a three-run home run to left that trimmed the margin to 10-6. Justin Kunz followed with a double to left center, but the CCU bullpen left pinch runner Evan Hyett stranded with a strikeout to end the inning.

Paez greeted reliever Aaron Stewart with an infield single in the bottom of the eighth, but Stewart responded with three consecutive strikeouts to keep the 'Dogs within striking distance.

After two quick outs in the top of the ninth, Sullivan stepped in and hit the first pitch he saw for a double to the opposite field and Thacker legged out another infield single that put men on the corners. Coastal Carolina went to closer Mike Morrison and – after two hard foul balls down the line – got Patrick Graham out on a fly ball to right field to end the game.

Gardner-Webb outhit the Chanticleers Sunday, collecting 11 base knocks on the day. Best (3-for-5, RBI), Sullivan (3-for-4, 2 2B) and Thacker (2-for-5, RBI) each had multiple safeties. Paul Trick (1-for-3), Walker (1-for-1, HR, 3 RBI) and Kunz (1-for-3, 2B) also had hits for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Bradley Hallman (3-2) took the loss on the mound, scattering five hits over 4.1 innings of work but issuing five walks (three strikeouts). The GWU pitching staff walked 10 batters total on Sunday, which marked a season high – but allowed only two extra base hits to the hot-hitting Chanticleers.

Beckwith (3-1) picked up his second relief win of the series, working 3.0 scoreless frames with only two hits allowed.

The Chanticleers had nine hits (seven singles) in the game, with Owings (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) and Cooke (2-for-3, 3 RBI) the main bats in the finale. Seven different men had hits for Coastal Carolina.

Gardner-Webb will remain on the road next week, traveling to Furman on Wednesday, April 6, for a 6:00 pm start in Greenville, S.C. GWU will travel to Campbell next weekend for a Friday-Saturday-Sunday series in Buies Creek.