BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Runnin' Bulldogs flexed their power at the plate, scoring a season-high 15 runs to earn a 15-4 win over visiting UNC Asheville in Big South Conference action Tuesday night at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
 
Gardner-Webb (15-16, 14-8 Big South) matched its season high with 16 base hits and went 8-for-20 with runners in scoring position.
 
UNC Asheville (10-20, 9-13 Big South) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first as Brandon Lankford hit a solo home run to dead center.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered in the bottom half of the first inning, loading the bases with no outs to set up a two-run single by Eric Jones.  A fielding error by Asheville pitcher Trey Jernigan on the play also allowed Cam Pearcey to safely cross home plate, followed by a RBI single by Patrick Ferguson gave GWU a 4-1 lead.
 
Gardner-Webb seized control of the contest in the third, scoring three runs on back-to-back ground-rule doubles by Ferguson and Parkhurst to set the score at 7-1.
 
Asheville scored once in the top of the fourth on the second solo home run of the contest by Lankford.
 
GWU expanded its lead to 10-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring one on a RBI knock up the middle by Jones, followed by a two-run blast to right field by Ferguson, his fourth home run of the season.
 
The 'Dogs scored four times in the bottom of the fifth.  Mitch McLendon sent two runs across the plate on a triple to center field, and later scored on a groundout by Joe Simone. Pearcey followed with a solo home run to left field, his sixth longball of 2021.
 
GWU scored once more in the bottom of the sixth inning on a RBI single through the right side by Ben LaSpaluto, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs a 15-2 lead.
 
UNC Asheville scored twice more in the contest, both on solo home runs.  Easton Jones connected to left field in the eighth and Kole Harris launched a shot to left field in the top of the ninth.
 
Gardner-Webb totaled 16 base hits throughout the contest, led by Ferguson's 4-for-4 effort with a double, home run, and four RBI.  Pearcey followed with a 3-for-4 evening at the dish with home run, one RBI, and three runs scored.
 
Luke Goodyear (1-0) earned the first win of his collegiate career, allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work in the start.  Corey Treyes tossed three innings, allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout, while Casey Young worked the ninth, allowing one run on one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
 
UNC Asheville had 10 hits on the night, led by Lankford, who was 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs.
 
Jernigan (0-1) took the loss for Asheville, giving up four runs on four hits with one strikeout while recording just one out in the start.   The Bulldogs used a total of eight arms on the evening.
 
Gardner-Webb's homestand continues Friday evening, as the Runnin' Bulldogs open a three-game Big South Conference series against Winthrop.  First pitch is slated for 5:00 pm at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium with live coverage on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com / ESPN App).