HIGH POINT, N.C. – Gardner-Webb used magnificent outings by its starting pitchers, as well as a multi-home run day by Chandler Redmond to hand High Point a pair of losses on Friday afternoon.
 
Gardner-Webb (22-23, 11-12 Big South) defeated High Point (22-21, 13-10 Big South) by a 9-1 score in the opening bout, and the Runnin' Bulldogs blanked the Panthers in the nightcap, 8-0.
 
GAME ONE
 
Three extra base hits by Chandler Redmond and a strong outing on the mound by Isaac Campbell propelled the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 9-1 win over High Point in Friday's lid-lifter.
 
Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, producing runs on back-to-back hits.  Corey Howard belted a double to the right field gap to send in Ben LaSpaluto, who led off the frame with double down the left field line.  That was followed by a knock to dead center by Mitch McLendon that plated Chandler Redmond, who reached via a walk.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs added to their lead in the top of the third inning.  Redmond led off the inning with a double off of the center field fence, and with one out would be driven home on a double off of the bat of McLendon.  That was followed by a RBI single by JP McGuire, and later in the frame Chase Lane would connect with a RBI single to give Gardner-Webb a 5-0 lead.
 
GWU would seal the game in the top of the eighth, scoring four runs.  The first two runs of the inning were scored after LaSpaluto reached on an error by HPU third baseman AJ Holcomb.  A RBI groundout by Justin Kunz plated one, and Redmond connected with a solo home run to right field to put the 'Dogs on top by a 9-0 margin.
 
High Point scored its lone run of the bout in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single by Joe Johnson.
 
Campbell (3-4) was sharp on the mound, earning the win in his longest outing of the season at eight innings.  He scattered six base hits, allowing just one run to score, while fanning six batters and issuing just two walks.  Cody Dooley worked the ninth, allowing one base hit.
 
Harrison Smith (2-5) took the loss for the Panthers, allowing five runs on eight base hits in five innings of work.  KJ Wells allowed three runs, one earned, on one hit in 2.2 innings of relief, while Cooper Jeffers allowed one run on one hit while recording one out, and Nick Niarchos tossed a scoreless ninth.
 
Gardner-Webb had ten base hits, led by Redmond who was 3-for-4 with one home run, two doubles, one RBI and scored three runs.  McLendon also had a multiple hit outing, going 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and scoring one run.
 
High Point totaled seven base hits, paced by Ryan Russell, who was 2-for-4 with a double.
 
GAME TWO
 
The Gardner-Webb pitching staff combined to allow just four base hits while the 'Dogs used three extra-base hits to defeat High Point, 8-0, in game two of Friday's doubleheader.
 
The 'Dogs once again jumped out to an immediate 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Redmond blasted a two-run home run over the scoreboard in right field.
 
It was Redmond's 17^th home run of 2019, tying the Gardner-Webb single season mark set by Danny Sullivan in 2017, as well as his 49^th career home run, as he looks to become only the third Big South Conference batter to reach the 50-home run mark.
 
GWU used the longball once again to expand its lead in the top of the third inning as Kunz belted a two-run home run to left field.  It was Kunz's tenth home run of the season, giving Gardner-Webb a 4-0 lead.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs sealed the contest in the top of the fifth inning.  LaSpaluto and Kunz led off with back-to-back singles, setting up a RBI knock to centerfield for Redmond.  Two more runs would come home on a bases-clearing triple by McLendon, which was immediately followed by a RBI base hit by JP McGuire to set the score at 8-0.
 
Landon Mitchell (7-4) earned his fifth straight win, working 6.2 scoreless innings.  The right-hander scattered four base hits while fanning three batters.  Kyle Ruehlman tossed one scoreless frame, while Eugene Snyder recorded one out, and Luke Williamson worked the ninth inning, striking out a pair of batters.
 
Joe Johnson (4-4) took the loss for HPU, allowing four runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of work.  The Panthers used a total of six pitchers throughout the contest.
 
Gardner-Webb collected nine base hits in the nightcap, with Redmond (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs), Kunz (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and LaSpaluto (2-for-4, 3 runs) each leading that effort.
 
High Point was held to just four base hits, led by Travis Holt, who was 3-for-5 with a double.
 
Due to forecasted thunderstorms throughout the southeast Saturday, the series finale is currently slated to take place on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm.