SHELBY, N.C. – Clemson scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning, but Gardner-Webb was able to shut down the Tigers comeback effort as the Runnin' Bulldogs earned a 9-7 win at Keeter Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
Gardner-Webb (20-23) held a 9-4 lead over visiting Clemson (28-19) after eight innings of play, and after a brief rain shower delayed action for ten minutes, GWU reliever Jarrett Thompson recorded two quick outs to start the top of the ninth.
 
The Tigers began then began their rally, as Logan Davidson reached on a walk, followed by a base hit by Grayson Byrd.  That set up a RBI double by Kyle Wilkie, and Byrd scored on a wild pitch in the following at-bat to pull Clemson within three runs.
 
Bryar Hawkins reached on a fielding error by GWU shortstop Ben LaSpaluto that allowed Wilkie to score, bringing the tying run up to bat in Jordan Greene, but the Clemson comeback effort would end there as Greene grounded out to end the game.
 
Sunday's game was Gardner-Webb's first ever win over Clemson and second win over a Power Five conference opponent this season, as the 'Dogs defeated SEC foe South Carolina by a 10-2 score on March 6.
 
The Tigers jumped out to an early lead, scoring once in the top of the first on a RBI groundout by Wilkie, driving home Sam Hall, who led the game off by drawing a walk.
 
GWU answered with a big third inning to claim the lead.  With one out, CJ White connected with a single up the middle to bring up LaSpaluto, who belted his second home run in as many days to center field to give the 'Dogs a 2-1 lead.
 
Gardner-Webb continued to expand its lead in the frame, with Eric Jones connecting with a RBI knock to center field, and later with the bases loaded, Mitch McLendon reached on an error by Clemson second baseman Greene that allowed two more runs to cross the plate.
 
One more run would score on a RBI single by Chris Clary to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 6-1 lead.
 
GWU scored twice more in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating one run on a RBI double to the right field gap by Chandler Redmond, later followed by a RBI hit up the middle by Jones.
 
Clemson scored once in the top of the fifth on a RBI single by Byrd, but Gardner-Webb would answer in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI single to right field by White, setting the score at 9-2.
 
The Tigers began to chip away at GWU's lead in the sixth, plating one run on a base hit by Justin Hawkins, and would score once more in the eighth on a RBI single by Hawkins.
 
Landon Mitchell (6-2) was sharp on the mound for Gardner-Webb, earning today's win.  The right-handed junior fanned seven batters while allowing three runs to score on seven base hits in six innings of work.  Kyle Ruehlman gave up one run on three hits with one strikeout in two innings of relief, at Thompson allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits in one inning.
 
Jacob Hennessy (3-1) took his first loss of the season for Clemson, allowing six runs, three earned, on five base hits with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work.  Travis Marr gave up three runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 innings on the mound, while Owen Griffith and Carson Spears combined to work the final 3.2 scoreless innings.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs totaled 12 base hits on the afternoon, with LaSpaluto (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs), Jones (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run), and White (2-for-4, RBI, 1 run) each having multiple hits.
 
The Tigers also had 12 hits throughout the game, with Davidson (2-for-4, 2B, 2 runs), Byrd (2-for-5, RBI, 1 run), Greene (2-for-5, 2 2B) and Hawkins (2-for-4, 2 RBI) leading that effort.
 
Gardner-Webb will now pause for final exams before returning to Big South Conference play on Friday evening at High Point.  The first pitch is slated for 6:00 pm with live coverage on ESPN+.