BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Chandler Redmond hit the first grand slam of his collegiate career in the bottom of the sixth inning, coming at just the right time for the Diamond 'Dogs as they a take a 8-6 decision over Ball State in the nightcap of Tuesday's doubleheader.
 
After recording the first out of the frame, Ball State reliever Cody Freed walked both Taber Mongero and Corey Howard to bring up the go-ahead run to the plate in the form of Justin Kunz. 
 
The Cardinals would go to their bullpen again, bringing in lefty Garett Simmons, who gave up a base hit to Kunz on his first pitch to load the bases.
 
With a 2-2 count, Redmond would find the pitch he was looking for, launching the ball well into the trees beyond the left field fence.  It was Redmond's fifth home run of the season, and the first grand slam for Gardner-Webb since April 15, 2016 when Patrick Graham went deep to lead GWU to a 9-0 win over High Point.
 
With the two-run lead headed to the final frame, GWU brought in Jarrett Thompson, who quickly retired the side to wrap up the win.
 
Ball State struck immediately, leading off the game with a triple down the right field line by Jeff Riedel that was later followed by a RBI single by Griffin Hulecki to give the Cardinals a 1-0 edge.
 
Neither team scored again until the top of the fifth inning, when Colin Brockhouse connected with a three-run blast to center field, giving Ball State a 4-0 lead.
 
Gardner-Webb responded in the bottom half of the frame.  Eric Jones stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, and sent the first pitch he saw into center field to drive in a pair of runs, setting the score at 4-2.
 
Freed would walk Luke Kaesmeyer to load the bases again, which allowed Mason Fox to drive in two additional runs on a base hit to left field, tying the game at 4-4.
 
Ball State reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth on a base hit by Jeff Riedel that scored two runs, giving the Cardinals a 6-4 advantage as play headed to the bottom half of the frame.
 
GWU had six base hits throughout the nightcap, with the top five batters in the batting order each getting one base knock.
 
Ball State had nine hits, led by Riedel (4-for-4, 3B, RBI).
 
Wil Sellers (2-0) earned the win, allowing one earned run on two base hits with a strikeout while working the sixth inning.  Thompson earned his second save of the season, fanning two batters in a flawless seventh.  Starter Isaac Campbell lasted 2.0 innings, giving up one run on four hits with three strikeouts.  Bradley Hallman worked a perfect third inning with a pair of strikeouts, while Tyler Johnson tossed 2.0 innings, giving up three runs on three hits while fanning four batters.
 
Simmons (0-2) took the loss for Ball State, recording the final two outs of the sixth, allowing two runs on two hits.  Starter TJ Harmon lasted 2.1 innings, giving up no runs on two hits with one strikeout.  Evan Marquardt followed with 2.1 innings in relief, giving up three runs with no base hits with four strikeouts and four walks issued.  Freed worked 0.2 innings, giving up three runs on two hits.
 
Gardner-Webb will travel to Troy, Alabama to face Troy in a three-game weekend series, beginning Friday evening at 6:00 pm.