RADFORD, Va. – The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs began Big South tournament play by cruising past USC Upstate, 4-0, on Thursday to advance to Friday's semifinals.

Gardner-Webb began the match with a  dominant showing at No. 3 doubles where Breno Plentz and Stefano Puga defeated Samuel Schiano and Frederick Sydow, 6-3. The 'Dogs clinched the doubles point when Johan Fors and Ross Gilbert were victorious in the No. 2 position. Maximilian Scholl and Millen Hurrion's match at No. 1 went unfinished, but the Gardner-Webb duo held a 5-3 lead.

In singles play, the Runnin' Bulldogs won three straight singles matches to shutout the Spartans. At No. 5, Fors defeated Tom Russwurm, 6-1, 6-1 to put the 'Dogs ahead by two matches. Plentz won at No. 3, 6-3, 6-1, and Bonaventura Durall made it official, moving Gardner-Webb to the semifinals with a win at No. 6.

Durall, one of two freshman on Gardner-Webb's roster, battled Schiano at No. 6 singles and won, 6-2, 6-3. The two-set win made the Runnin' Bulldogs the first team to clinch a spot in the Big South semifinals.

Gardner-Webb now stands 13-7 overall, while USC Upstate ends its season with a 3-17 mark.

The third-seeded Runnin' Bulldogs will battle fifth-seeded Radford tomorrow at 9 a.m. and look to avenge its only Big South loss from the regular season.

On March 17 in Radford, the 'Dogs fell, 5-2, despite wins from Scholl and Hurrion in the top flights.

"USC Upstate played a very good match today," said Scholl, who was one game away from winning the opening set at No. 1 singles when Durall clinched the victory. "We're happy to move on because it is never easy to win a conference tournament. Now, we look forward to the chance to battle Radford again and to avenge our loss to them in the regular season."

First serve between the 'Dogs and Highlanders is set for 9 a.m., tomorrow, April 19. The winner will advance to Saturday's winner-take-all championship match. The winner of the Big South tournament will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.