GREENVILLE, S.C. – A four-run sixth inning propelled Gardner-Webb to a 5-3 win over Furman in the first game of a two-game series Sunday evening at Latham Stadium.
 
Gardner-Webb remains unblemished on the year at 4-0, while Furman falls to 1-3 overall.
 
With the score tied at 1-1 as play headed to the sixth inning, Chandler Redmond led off with a base hit, followed by a double to left field by Corey Howard to put a pair of baserunners in scoring position with no outs.
 
JP McGuire grounded out in the following at bat that allowed Redmond to score to give GWU a 2-1 lead with one away.
 
Mitch McLendon stepped up and connected with a double down the left field line to send Howard home to put the 'Dogs on top by a 3-1 margin.
 
Gardner-Webb would load the bases after a base hit by Taber Mongero and a walk by Chris Clary, setting up a RBI single to left field by Davis Ballentine, followed by an RBI walk by Ben LaSpaluto to set the score at 5-1.
 
Furman began to fight back in the bottom of the eighth as John Michael Boswell connected with a two-run home run off of reliever Eugene Snyder with two outs, bringing the Paladins within two runs. 
 
GWU responded by bringing in Jarrett Thompson from the bullpen to thwart any comeback effort, as he held Furman at bay for the remainder of the contest.
 
The Diamond 'Dogs scratched first in the top of the fourth inning.  Howard led off the frame by belting a double to deep left field, and would later score on a wild pitch.
 
Furman answered in the bottom of the fifth inning on a solo home run by Banks Griffith to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Howard paced the Gardner-Webb offense, going 3-for-5 on the evening with a pair of doubles.  Justin Kunz also had multiple base hits with a 2-for-5 performance.  The 'Dogs totaled ten base hits throughout the contest.
 
Furman tallied seven base hits on the evening, led by Boswell (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Bret Huebner (2-for-3).
 
Landon Mitchell earned the win on the mound for GWU, tossing 3.0 innings, allowing one run on one base hit with a pair of strikeouts.  Starter Isaac Campbell worked the five scoreless innings, allowing three base hits with five strikeouts.  Snyder tossed 0.2 innings, giving up a pair of runs on two hits with one strikeout, while Thompson worked the final 1.1 innings, allowing no runs on one base hit with two strikeouts to record his second save of the season.
 
Nik Verbeke was saddled with the loss for the Paladins, allowing three runs on six base hits in 5.1 innings with one strikeout. 
 
The two teams will square off again tomorrow evening at 6:00 pm at Furman's Latham Stadium.