BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb baseball opens Big South Conference action this weekend, hosting Longwood for a three-game series at Shelby's Keeter Stadium.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs enter league play with a 7-6 record, coming off an 18-8 loss at No. 15 North Carolina this past Tuesday.
 
At the plate, Taber Mongero leads GWU with a .389 batting average, while Corey Howard and Justin Kunz each have a team-high 19 base hits.  Chandler Redmond leads the team with four home runs and 14 RBI.
 
Kyle Ruehlman has been impressive on the mound for the 'Dogs thus far.  In three starts, he has a low 1.86 ERA, fanning ten batters in 19.1 innings of work.  Isaac Campbell has also had a stellar first half of the season with an ERA of 2.49 in four starts, striking out a team-high 18 batters in 21.2 innings pitched.
 
The Lancers (5-11) enter the weekend after a 10-4 loss to Norfolk State on Tuesday.
 
Hunter Gilliam leads Longwood offensively, batting .315 with one double, three home runs, seven RBI and a .500 slugging percentage.
 
Tyler Morgan has been the Lancers' top arm thus far, posting a 1-2 record 4.50 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 20.0 innings of work.
 
All three games this weekend will take place at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium, the permanent home of the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C.
 
Friday's game will begin at 6:00 pm, with the two teams also facing off at 2:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
 
Saturday's game will be Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, in which all present law enforcement will be recognized on the field in a pre-game ceremony.
 
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, 12:30 pm – LHP Isaac Campbell (GWU) vs. LHP Andrew Melnyk (LWD)
Saturday, 2:00 pm – LHP Aaron Stewart (GWU) vs. RHP Tyler Morgan (LWD)
Sunday, 2:00 pm – RHP Kyle Ruehlman (GWU) vs. TBD (LWD)