CHARLESTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb dropped an 8-6 decision to Charleston Southern in the opening game of a key Big South Conference weekend series.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs drop to 15-15 overall and 6-7 in Big South play, while the Buccaneers improve to 13-24 overall and 3-10 in league action.
 
Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a RBI double by Justin Kunz, driving in Ben LaSpaluto who led off the game with a base hit.
 
CSU answered in the bottom of the first, scoring on back-to-back RBI base hits by Max Ryerson and Reid Hardwick to take a 2-1 lead.
 
GWU tied the game in the top of the second as Chris Clary belted a solo home run to center field, his second home run of 2019.
 
Charleston Southern reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Payton Holdsworth.
 
Gardner-Webb again tied the game in the top of the fourth as Davis Balentine connected with a RBI knock to right field, setting the score at 3-3.
 
The Bucs would seize control of the game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on a RBI double by Josh Litchfield and a two-run single by Ryerson.
 
CSU plated two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as Jason Martin hit a two-run home run to left field, putting the score at 8-3.
 
Gardner-Webb attempted to rally, plating two runs in the top of the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles by Corey Howard and Eric Jones and in the top of the ninth scored one run on a bases-loaded single by JP McGuire.
 
Charleston Southern had eight base hits on the night, led by Martin, who was 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and two RBI.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs totaled 11 base hits on the evening, with Kunz (2-for-5, 2B, RBI) and Howard (2-for-5, RBI) leading that effort.
 
Jaret Bennett (2-4) earned the win on the mound for the Bucs, allowing three runs on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts in six innings of work.  Ryan Stoudemire recorded two outs, allowing two runs on two hits, Eddie Hiott worked two innings, giving up one run one two hits, and RJ Petit recorded the final out, earning his third save of the season.
 
Isaac Campbell (2-2) took the loss for Gardner-Webb, allowing four runs on four hits with two strikeouts in three innings of work.  Langdon Wilson hurled two innings in relief, allowing four runs on three hits while fanning three batters, Luke Williamson tossed one scoreless inning, and Chase Lane tossed the final two innings, allowing no runs on one hit with four strikeouts.
 
The two teams will face off again tomorrow at 4:00 pm, with live coverage on ESPN+.