SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A six-run sixth inning, highlighted by a grand slam by Mason Fox, propelled Gardner-Webb to a 13-8 decision at Wofford on Tuesday evening.
 
Gardner-Webb (13-9) scored all 13 of its runs in the middle innings, while outhitting Wofford (14-7) by a 13-9 margin.
 
Leading by a 7-4 margin as play headed to the top of the sixth, the Diamond 'Dogs seized control of the contest by plating six runs in the frame. 
 
Corey Howard led off the inning with a double ripped to left field, followed by a single to right field by Justin Kunz to put runners on the corners.
 
Eric Jones drove in the first run of the inning on a base knock to left field, and Chandler Redmond reached on a walk to load the bases with no outs.
 
Wofford brought in Tyler McGuigan from the bullpen to spell David Ehmen, who came in to start the inning for the Terriers.  McGuigan would hit Mickey Dugan with his first pitch of the evening to drive in another run to set the score at 9-4 with no outs.
 
That brought Fox to the plate, who belted the first pitch he saw over the left field wall.  It was Fox's third home run of the season and his first career grand slam, which gave Gardner-Webb a 13-4 lead.
 
The Terriers sliced into GWU's lead in the seventh inning, scoring four runs on three hits and an error to pull within five runs at 13-8, but Gardner-Webb reliever Tyler Johnson would hold Wofford at bay in the final two frames, allowing just one hit to preserve the contest for the Diamond 'Dogs.
 
Wofford jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third.  Colin Davis drew a walk from GWU starter Noah Davis to lead off the inning, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex Malsch.  Base hits by Mack Nathanson and Cody Miller drove in two additional runs.
 
Gardner-Webb immediately answered, plating three runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game.  Jones led off with a hit to center field, followed up by a double to the right field gap by Redmond.
 
Dugan followed with a double of his own down the left field line to send both runners home, and Fox connected with the third consecutive double of the frame to drive home Dugan to knot the score at 3-3.
 
The Diamond 'Dogs took the lead in the fifth inning, taking advantage on a pair of errors by Wofford to score four runs.  With two outs, Gardner-Webb loaded the bases for Chris Clary, who sent a ball to the warning track in left field that popped out of the glove of Nathanson, clearing the bases and putting Clary on third.  JP McGuire would then reach base safely due to a throwing error by third baseman Max McDougald to allow Clary to cross home plate, setting the score at 7-3 in GWU's favor.
 
Wofford got one run back in the bottom of the fifth as Malsch led off with a solo home run to deep left field.
 
Davis (1-1) earned his first collegiate win in the start on the mound for Gardner-Webb, lasting 5.2 innings while giving up four runs on five hits with three strikeouts.  Carey Spratlin tossed recorded two outs in relief, surrendering four runs on three hits, while Johnson worked the final 2.2 innings, allowing no runs on one hit with five strikeouts.
 
Ty Reginelli (1-1) was saddled with the loss for Wofford, giving up four runs on one hit in 2.0 innings of work while fanning two batters.  Jake Zoller hurled the first three innings in the no decision, allowing three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.  Ehmen recorded no outs while giving up four runs on three hits.  McGuigan recorded the first out of the sixth inning, giving up two runs on three hits, while Jake Hershman worked the final 3.2 innings, allowing no runs on two hits with three strikeouts.
 
Gardner-Webb had four batters collect multiple hits on the night, led by Jones (3-of-6, 2B, RBI).  Fox (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 5 RBI), Dugan (2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI), and Clary (2-for-3) each had a pair of hits.
 
The Terriers had nine base knocks throughout the bout, led by Nathanson (3-of-5, 2B, 2 RBI).
 
Both teams will square off again tomorrow evening, this time at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.  The first pitch is slated for 6:00 pm with live coverage on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).