SHELBY, N.C. – A grand slam off of the bat of JP McGuire propelled Gardner-Webb to a 9-5 win over visiting Longwood in the weekend series finale on Sunday afternoon.
 
With the win, the Runnin' Bulldogs improve to 8-8 overall, snapping a six-game losing skid, and pick up their first Big South Conference win of the season to sit at 1-2 in league play.  Longwood drops to 7-12 overall and 2-1 in Big South contests.
 
Leading by a 5-4 margin as play headed to the bottom of the seventh, GWU quickly loaded the bases on a leadoff triple by Ben Rowdon and Justin Kunz and Corey Howard each reaching base after being hit by a pitch.
 
McGuire stepped into the box with one out, and launched the first pitch he saw well past the left field wall to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a comfortable 9-4 lead.  It was the first home run of the season for McGuire and first grand slam of the season GWU.
 
Longwood attempted to fight back in the top of the ninth inning as Nate Blakeney led off by sneaking a double down the left field line, and would later score on a groundout by pinch hitter Eric Crain, but the comeback effort would be snuffed out after that as Tyler Mahone would fly out to left field to end the game.
 
The Lancers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, plating runs on a RBI double to center field by Hunter Gilliam, followed by a RBI single by Blakeney in the top of the first inning.
 
The 'Dogs answered in the bottom of the third inning. Chris Clary led off the frame by belting a double down the left field line, and would later score on a two-out base hit by Kunz.  That was immediately followed by a two-run single by Howard to give GWU a 3-2 edge.
 
Longwood responded in the top of the fourth, tying the game on a RBI double to the right field gap by De'Andre Pitts, who would later give the Lancers a 4-3 lead after scoring on a wild pitch.
 
Gardner-Webb reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the frame, tying the game on a RBI double by Clary, who was later able to cross home plate on a sacrifice bunt by Davis Ballentine.  That gave GWU a 5-4 advantage.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs totaled ten base hits on the day, with Ben LaSpaluto (3-for-4), Clary (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and McGuire (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) each having multiple hit outings.
 
Longwood had seven hits, led by Blakeney (3-for-4, 2B, RBI).
 
Kyle Ruehlman (2-0) earned the win for GWU, working the first five innings, allowing four runs on six base hits with two strikeouts.  Langdon Wilson tossed 2.1 innings, allowing no runs or base hits with four strikeouts, and Jarrett Thompson hurled the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on one hit.
 
Nick Fuchs (1-2) took the loss for the Lancers, giving up five runs on six hits while fanning three batters in 4.1 innings of work. Longwood used a total of five pitchers on the day, with John Gregory giving up the grand slam.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Wednesday evening at Western Carolina.  The first pitch is set for 5:00 pm with live coverage on ESPN+.