BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb redshirt senior Wil Sellers stopped a Presbyterian comeback effort by tossing a scoreless ninth inning, breaking the GWU all-time saves record to give the 'Dogs a 6-5 win over Presbyterian on Sunday afternoon.
 
Gardner-Webb (24-18, 10-8 Big South) completed the series sweep of Presbyterian (13-28, 6-12 Big South), the second series sweep of the year for the Diamond 'Dogs.
 
With the score at 6-1 after six innings, Presbyterian began its comeback.
 
With one out in the top of the seventh, Andrew Bladt reached on a walk, which was followed by a home run to left field by Jonathan White to bring the Blue Hose within three runs at 6-3.
 
Later in the frame with two away, a wild pitch by Gardner-Webb reliever Landon Mitchell allowed Jack McLaughlin to score to set the score at 6-4.
 
Presbyterian trimmed GWU's advantage to just one run with one away in the top of the eighth inning as Colton Chapman hit a solo home run off of the scoreboard in right field.  Mitchell retired the following two batters to end the threat.
 
GWU brought Sellers in to work the ninth with hopes of finishing the game for the third time this weekend.
 
White led off the frame with a base hit just past the glove of second baseman Taber Mongero, but Sellers got Nick Guimbarda to ground into a double play in the following at bat to clear the bases.
 
McLaughlin stepped up to the plate with two outs and hit a routine fly ball to right field to end the game, giving Gardner-Webb the win and Sellers the record-breaking save.
 
Sellers now has 24 saves for his career, surpassing a mark set by Adam Izokovic in a 5-4 win over VMI on April 28, 2012.  Izokovic was a member of the Gardner-Webb baseball team from 2009-2012.
 
The Blue Hose took an initial 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, taking advantage of a fielding error by first baseman Corey Howard that allowed Tannor Byrd to cross home plate.
 
Gardner-Webb responded in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Mason Fox led off the frame by launching the first pitch he saw over the left field wall, his sixth home run of the season.
 
The 'Dogs took the lead with one away in the frame as Howard belted the first pitch he saw over the right field wall, his second home run of the year.
 
GWU plated two more runs in the inning on a double to right field by Chandler Redmond to take a 4-1 lead.
 
Gardner-Webb expanded its advantage in the bottom of the fifth, as a sacrifice fly by Mickey Dugan sent one run across the plate, and Howard connected with a RBI single to set the score at 6-1.
 
Noah Davis (3-1) earned the win for GWU, working 3.2 innings of relief while allowing two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.  Starter Aaron Stewart lasted 2.2 innings, giving up one run on one base hit with two strikeouts.  Isaac Campbell recorded one out in the seventh inning, allowing one run on one base hit, while Mitchell lasted 1.1 innings with one earned run allowed on one hit with one strikeout.  Sellers worked the final inning, allowing just one hit to pick up his fifth save of 2018.
 
Jackson Dean (0-2) took the loss for Presbyterian, giving up four runs on five hits while fanning two batters in 3.2 innings.  Eric Miles tossed 2.1 innings, surrendering a pair of runs on five hits with one strikeout.  Colton Springs worked the final two frames, giving up no runs on one hit with three strikeouts.
 
The Diamond 'Dogs had 11 base hits throughout the contest, with Howard (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), Fox (2-for-3, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 runs), Redmond (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI), and Luke Kaesmeyer (2-for-4, run) doing the majority of the damage at the plate.
 
PC totaled seven base hits, led by White (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Chapman (2-for-4, HR, RBI).
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action this Wednesday evening, taking on Appalachian State at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, N.C. as part of the 2018 Sunbelt Rentals Collegiate Baseball Series.  The first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm and information about tickets and more can be found at www.bbtballparkcharlotte.com.