BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.  – A two-run single by Mickey Dugan with one away in the bottom of the seventh gave Gardner-Webb its first lead of the afternoon, propelling the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 5-1 win over visiting Quinnipiac on Friday afternoon.
 
Gardner-Webb (8-1) managed just one base hit in the first six inning of play, as Dugan hit a slow roller down the third base line that Quinnipiac (3-4) third baseman Evan Vulgamore was unable to field in time.
 
The 'Dogs earned their second base knock of the contest with one out in the seventh as Mason Fox singled to Quinnipiac shortstop Dylan Lutz, beating the throw to first base to reach safely.  That was followed by a base hit to deep left field by Patrick Price to put runners on the corners with one away.
 
Pinch runner Chris Clary stole second base to put both runners in scoring position for Dugan, who drove the ball into dead center field to plate Fox and Clary easily.
 
Dugan would later score on a RBI double to left field by Corey Howard, giving GWU a 3-1 lead after seven innings.
 
Gardner-Webb added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth.  Justin Kunz led off the frame with a shot that was just over the wall in left field, his first home run of the season.  That was immediately followed by a solo home run by Chandler Redmond to left field, his fourth home run of 2018.
 
The Bobcats threatened in the top of the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate with the bases loaded with two outs, but GWU reliever Wil Sellers drew a fly ball to right field by Ben Gibson to end the game.
 
Quinnipiac took an early lead, scoring once in the top of the second inning, as Julius Saporito was able to score from second base on a base hit by Anthony Cruz that was followed by an error by GWU shortstop Taber Mongero.
 
Landon Mitchell (2-1) earned the win, lasting a career-best 7.0 innings on the mound.  The right-handed sophomore scattered five base hits while allowing one unearned run with four strikeouts.  Sellers tossed the final 2.0 innings, allowing no runs on three base hits with one strikeout, recording his first save of 2018.
 
Wyatt Hamilton (0-1) took the loss for Quinnipiac, allowing three runs on five base hits in the seventh inning.  Starter Taylor Luciani shined in the no-decision, allowing no base runners until he had recorded two outs in the fourth and gave up just one base hit in 6.0 innings of work.  He finished the evening with seven strikeouts and issued just one walk.
 
Gardner-Webb totaled nine base hits on the evening, with Dugan (2-for-3, 2 RBI, run) and Fox (2-for-4, run) pacing the team.
 
Quinnipiac collected eight hits, all singles, with Lutz (2-for-4), Vulgamore (2-for-4), and Saporito (2-for-4, run) each having multi-hit evenings.
 
The two teams will resume the series tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm at John Henry Moss Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).