SPARTANBURG, S.C.- Gardner-Webb scored five unanswered runs to rally for an 8-5 win in Friday's Big South Conference series opener at USC Upstate.
 
Gardner-Webb (12-11, 11-4 Big South) won its ninth consecutive league game, keeping USC Upstate (19-7, 11-7 Big South) off of the scoreboard in the final four innings of play, allowing just four base hits, all singles, during that stretch.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning.  Dom Peroni led off by drawing a walk and was quickly moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Bo Rusher.  That led to an RBI knock to left field off of the bat of Eric Jones, giving Gardner-Webb an early 1-0 advantage.
 
GWU expanded its lead to 2-0 in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Patrick Ferguson, plating Ben LaSpaluto, who led off the inning with a base hit through the left side.
 
The Spartans answered in the bottom of the third inning, scratching first on a RBI double by Devin Buckner, later followed by a three-run home run by Jack Gallagher to give Upstate a 4-2 lead.
 
Gardner-Webb pulled back within one run of the lead in the top of the fourth with Mitch McLendon belting a RBI single up the middle to set the score at 4-3.
 
USC Upstate pushed its advantage back to two runs at 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a solo home run to right field by Jeff Taylor.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs reclaimed control of the bout in the sixth.  Joe Simone led off by drawing a walk and quickly stole second base to reach scoring position.  A groundout by McLendon moved Simone to third base, and LaSpaluto struck out and reached via a wild pitch, which allowed Simone to score to set the score at 5-4.
 
Cam Pearcey followed with a double to the left field gap to put both men in scoring position, and a passed ball allowed LaSpaluto to score to tie the game at 5-5 and moved Pearcey to third with one out.
 
GWU claimed the lead as Pearcey was able to steal home plate.
 
The 'Dogs added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning with Pearcey launching a two-run blast to left field, his fourth home run of the season.
 
Gardner-Webb collected 11 base hits throughout the contest, with McLendon leading that effort with a 3-of-5 outing with one RBI and one run scored.  Pearcey (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) and Jones (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) also had multiple hit outings.
 
USC Upstate totaled 12 hits, led by Taylor (3-for-4, HR, RBI) and Jason Matthews (3-for-5) pacing the Spartans.
 
Connor Gleeson (1-0) earned his first win of the season for the Runnin' Bulldogs, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings from the bullpen, scattering two base hits.  Starter Mason Miller lasted four innings, allowing four earned runs on eight base hits with eight strikeouts.  Dalton Strickland worked one inning, allowing no runs or hits, and Isaac Campbell hurled the final 2.2 innings, allowing no runs on two hits with three strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.
 
Austin Morgan (2-1) took the loss for the Spartans, allowing three runs on two hits with four strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work.  Starter Jordan Marks lasted five innings, allowing two earned runs on seven base hits with six strikeouts.
 
The series continues tomorrow at 1:00 pm at Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park, with live coverage on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com / ESPN App).