BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb took both ends of Friday's Big South Conference doubleheader against Winthrop, dominating game one to cruise to a 13-1 win before rallying in game two to win on a walk-off home run by Cam Pearcey, 8-7.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs improve to 17-16 overall and 16-8 in Big South play, while Winthrop now sits at 11-18 overall and 8-13 in league play.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Gardner-Webb offense exploded with 10 runs in the first three innings, propelling GWU to a 13-1 win over Winthrop.
 
The 'Dogs took an immediate 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Mitch McLendon led off by launching a home run to right field, his fourth home run of the season.
 
GWU seized control of the game in the bottom of the second inning, scoring seven runs on six base hits, highlighted by a three-run home run to center field by Patrick Ferguson, his fifth home run of the year.
 
Gardner-Webb pushed its lead to 10-0 in the third inning on a two-run home run to left field by JP McGuire, his first of the season.
 
GWU scored again in the bottom of the fourth on a base knock by Dom Peroni to give the 'Dogs an 11-0 advantage.
 
Winthrop finally scratched in the top of the sixth inning as a sacrifice fly by Spencer Yankle plated Tyler Baker, who led off the frame with a base knock to left field.
 
GWU scored twice more in the contest, once in the seventh on a RBI double by McGuire and again in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Ferguson.
 
Gardner-Webb totaled 15 hits throughout the game, paced by McGuire with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, driving in four runs with a double and home run. 
 
Winthrop managed five base hits, led by Joe McNamara (2-for-4).
 
Mason Miller (4-1) was dominant on the mound for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing just one run while scattering five base hits with nine strikeouts in eight innings of work.  Hunter Youngblood worked the final frame, giving up no runs or hits while fanning one batter.
 
Tyler Jones (1-4) took the loss for the Eagles, giving up eight runs on seven base hits in 1.2 innings in the start.
 
GAME TWO
 
Cam Pearcey belted a three-run blast well past the left field wall to give the Runnin' Buldogs an 8-7 walk-off win over Winthrop in Friday's nightcap.
 
Trailing Winthrop by a 7-5 score as play headed to the bottom of the ninth, Gardner-Webb put a pair of runners on base immediately as Mitch McLendon reached on a walk and pinch hitter Joe Brazil sent a knock through the right side to put runners on the corners.
 
That brought up Pearcey, who launched the walk-off home run on a 1-1 pitch, his team-leading seventh home run of 2021.
 
Gardner-Webb took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, with Eric Jones connecting with a double in the right field corner to send home both McLendon and Joe Simone.
 
Neither team scratched again until the top of the eighth inning, when Winthrop claimed its first lead of the evening by scoring three runs.  A fielding error by GWU shortstop Ben LaSpaluto allowed one run to score, and later in the frame Spencer Yankle reached on a walk with the bases loaded to drive in one, followed by the go-ahead run scoring as Dillon Morton was hit by a pitch to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
 
GWU answered in the bottom half of the inning on a three-run home run to right field by Patrick Ferguson, his second home run of the day and sixth of the season, to put the 'Dogs back on top by a 5-3 score.
 
The Eagles fought back once again in the top of the ninth inning.  Jonathan Strauss sent one run in on a base hit to center field, and Joe McNamara gave Winthrop the lead again on a two-RBI knock to center field.  One more run was scored in the frame on a sacrifice fly off the bat off Dillon Morton to give Winthrop a 7-5 lead.
 
Tyler Harrison (1-0) earned his first win of the season on the mound for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing no runs or hits while recording three outs in the top of the ninth.  Starter Bobby Alcock had a strong outing, giving up no runs with just one base hit while striking out four batters and issuing only one walk in five innings of work. 
 
GWU totaled 11 base hits on the evening, led by Pearcey (3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) and Jones (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI).
 
Colten Rendon (2-2) took the loss for the Eagles, giving up four runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 1.0 innings of work.  Starter Jason Crumley lasted 3.1 innings, giving up two runs on four base hits while fanning three batters.
 
Winthrop collected six hits, paced by Scout McFalls (2-for-3).
 
The weekend series wraps up Sunday afternoon at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.  First pitch is slated for 2:00 pm.