SHELBY, N.C. – Gardner-Webb plated three runs in the first inning, propelling the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 6-1 win over visiting Radford in Big South Conference play on Saturday afternoon.
 
Gardner-Webb (19-20, 9-11 Big South) wasted no time building a lead against Radford (22-21, 13-7 Big South), with Ben LaSpaluto leading off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to center field, his third home run of the season.
 
That was followed by a double by Justin Kunz, who later scored on a sacrifice fly by Corey Howard.  One more run would cross the plate in the frame on a RBI bunt by Chris Clary, putting the 'Dogs on top by a 3-0 score.
 
The Highlanders would be held off of the scoreboard until the top of the fourth inning, when Matt Roth reached on a bases-loaded fielder's choice, plating Adam Whitacre, who reached via a walk earlier in the frame.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs would bolster their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Mitch McLendon led the inning off with a base hit to the right field gap, and would later score on a wild pitch by Radford reliver Evan Threehouse. 
 
Threehouse loaded the bases with two straight walks, setting up a two-run knock by Howard to the left field gap, giving GWU a 6-1 lead.
 
Radford would not be able to put another baserunner on until the top of the ninth, when Cole Higgerson scorched a ball down to right field line for a stand up triple with one out, but GWU reliver Chase Lane thwarted any comeback effort, shutting the Highlanders down to seal the contest.
 
Gardner-Webb totaled 12 base hit on the afternoon, with LaSpaluto (2-for-4, HR, RBI), Clary (2-for-4, 2B, RBI), McLendon (2-for-4), Eric Jones (2-for-4), and JP McGuire (2-for-5, 2B) each having multiple-hit afternoons.
 
The Highlanders had eight hits on the day, led by Will Harless, who was 2-for-4 at the plate.
 
Landon Mitchell (5-4) earned the win on the mound for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing just one run to score on seven base hits in 5.1 innings of work while fanning five batters.  Lane tossed the final 3.2 innings relief, allowing no runs on just one base hit with two strikeouts to record his first career save.
 
Andrew Nardi (3-2) took the loss for Radford, surrendering five runs on ten base hits with one strikeout in 5.1 innings of work.  Threehouse faced two batters without recording an out, giving up one run on no hits while walking two batters, and Graham Firoved worked the final 2.2 innings, allowing no runs on a pair of hits while fanning seven batters.
 
The two teams will square off in the series finale tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.