BOILING SPRINGS – Joe Simeone went the distance on the mound and Gardner-Webb collected nine hits to beat High Point, 8-3, in Friday's Big South Conference baseball opener.

Simeone (3-2) had his second quality start in a row and had a no-hitter going through 5.2 innings. The Groton, Mass., native allowed only two hits and three runs with six strikeouts in a clutch effort. He threw 121 pitches in the game.

Gardner-Webb (9-11, 1-0 Big South) fell behind 1-0 early after the Panthers got their first two on board without benefit of a base hit. Simeone plunked leadoff man Javon Fields and walked Charlie Klingler – and both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.

Cleanup man Peyton Carr drove home Fields with a sacrifice fly to right and High Point (4-14, 0-1 Big South) had its early lead.

The Runnin' Bulldogs surged in front for good in the third. AJ Jones blistered a one-out single into right field, then scored on an outfield error on Jacob Marcos' single to right. Benino Mendella, who followed Jones' single with a base knock of his own, later scored on a wild pitch to put Gardner-Webb up 2-1.

Peter Capobianco blasted an RBI double into left in the bottom of the fourth inning, driving home Alec Burns for a 3-1 lead. Gardner-Webb padded its advantage in the fifth when Jones scored on a bases loaded wild pitch and Bo Rusher III plated another run when he walked with the bases loaded.

High Point went to the bullpen and Parker Dean threw one pitch to get out of the jam.

Simeone continued his sharp work into the sixth inning, getting an infield pop up before walking Charlie Klingler to give the Panthers another base runner. He struck out the next batter and got ahead of cleanup hitter Peyton Carr with two quick strikes – but Carr lined a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence to break up the no-hit bid and trim the lead to 5-3. Simeone recovered to end the inning, working a quick 0-2 count before coaxing a soft fly ball for the third out.

Gardner-Webb added plenty of insurance in the eighth inning. Burns led off with a solo home run to the opposite field to make the score 6-3 and Capobianco worked a full count and a walk with one away. Humberto Torres followed with a hard single into center and Jones walked to load the bases once again. 

Marcos came through with a big hit, lacing a two-run single up the middle to give Gardner-Webb a more comfortable 8-3 lead.

Simeone crossed the 100-pitch mark in the eighth inning, but was determined to finish what he started on Friday. He needed just 15 pitches to retire High Point in order in the ninth.

Marcos was the star at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI to lead Gardner-Webb's nine-hit attack. Jones (2-for-3, two runs), Torres (1-for-4, run), Capobianco (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and Burns (1-for-2, HR, RBI, two walks) also had strong offensive showings.

Carr and Brady Pearre each had hits for High Point.

Carter Sheppard took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings of work. He walked five and fanned three GWU batters. Parker Dean worked 3.0 innings of relief, tossing scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh before allowing three runs in the eighth. Connor Smith came on to record one out for the Panthers.

The two teams will resume the series on Saturday afternoon, with Gardner-Webb sending freshman southpaw Tyler Switalski to the mound to face High Point's Teddy Merritt. First pitch is set for 4:00 pm. Phil Constantino will have the audio call live on gwusports.com/listenlive.