BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Despite scoring five runs, the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to go 4-0 on opening weekend and suffered a 7-5 setback to the Furman Paladins.

Furman (2-3) got on the board first as catcher Tess Griswold hit a two-run shot to put the Paladins up by pair, and the visitors extended their lead to three runs with an RBI single in the top of the third.

Gardner-Webb (3-1) would fight back in the third and tie the contest.

With Lily Pressley on second base, Annamarie Warley hit an RBI triple into the gap in right-center field. Warley would not remain on third for long as Autumn Owen belted her first career home run to tie the game at three.

The Paladins would break the tie using an RBI single in the fifth but a triple play ended the inning. The Paladins scored on a wild pitch the following inning to take a 5-3, but Callie Thornton tied the contest in the Runnin' Bulldogs half of the inning.

Thornton hit Gardner-Webb's second homer of the day, a two-RBI bomb over the left field fence to knot the game at five.

Once again, it was a short-lived tie, as Furman took another two-run lead in the top of the seventh. The Paladins went ahead, 7-5, via an RBI triple and sacrifice fly.

Down to their final three outs, the Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to battle back and went down in order.

Brooke Perry (2-1) took the loss, throwing all seven innings and giving up seven earned runs and three walks. She fanned nine batters, bringing her total for the season to 20 through three games. Furman's Emily DeMonte threw a complete game and improved to 2-1.

At the plate, Thornton led the 'Dogs with a 2-for-3 day and two RBI. Furman's Casey Bigham and Taylor Vahle both had two hits.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to action on Tuesday, February 12 at 2 p.m. for a doubleheader against the North Carolina A&T Aggies.