WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – No. 4 seed Gardner-Webb fell in its Big South Conference Championship opener Friday afternoon, dropping a 4-1 decision to No. 4 seed UNC Asheville.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (12-6) lost the opening doubles match of the day, as Asheville's Kylee Shipley and Hanna Francisco took a 6-1 win over Sandra Bolstad and Mary Walker Mixon at No. 1 doubles.

The No. 2 doubles tandem of Sarah Rieckmann and Catherine White pulled Gardner-Webb even with a 6-2 win, but Asheville took the team point with a 7-6 (7) win at No. 3 doubles.

A win by Francisco over Bolstad at No. 1 singles (6-0, 6-0) put UNC Asheville (11-9) up 2-0 on the team scoreboard and the fifth-seeded Bulldogs took a commanding 3-0 lead after Shipley outlasted Daniela Naupari, 6-4, 7-5 at No. 3 singles.

White, who posted a 14-3 record during the regular season, kept Gardner-Webb alive with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 5 singles over Hunter Hall – but Amalie Davidsen battled back for a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles to clinch the match.

Matches at No. 2 and No. 4 singles did not finish.

Gardner-Webb took a 4-3 win over UNC Asheville during the regular season on March 9 in Boiling Springs.