BOILING SPRINGS – Joe Simeone hurled a complete-game shutout Thursday night to spark Gardner-Webb's 3-0 win over Winthrop in a key Big South Conference series opener.

The Groton, Mass., graduate student scattered seven hits, did not issue a walk a fanned a career-high 13 batters in a terrific performance. It was Simeone's third complete-game effort of the season and second in Big South play. He threw a season-high 122 pitches in the victory.

The win was also Gardner-Webb's 10th in the last 11 meeting with the Eagles.

Gardner-Webb (12-22, 3-7 Big South) took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, getting a six-pitch leadoff walk to Trevor Mattson and a sacrifice bunt from AJ Jones to get Mattson to second. Jacob Marcos came through with the big hit, driving a pitch into centerfield to break the scoreless tie.

The lead grew to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth.

Peter Capobianco led off and was hit by a pitch and moved to second when Alec Burns ripped a single into left. A one-out RBI single by Alex Ray plated Capobianco for a 2-0 lead and AJ Jones dropped a double into left to bring home Burns to extend the lead.

Simeone grew stronger from there, striking out the final two batters he faced in a clean seventh inning, and striking out the side in the eighth on just 10 pitches. He came back out for the ninth inning and pitched around a leadoff double – ending the game with his 13th strikeout.

Gardner-Webb had eight hits in the game, getting a pair Marcos (2-for-4), Robison (2-for-3) and Burns (2-for-3).

Winthrop (12-21, 6-4 Big South) had seven hits, with Dillon Morton going 3-for-4 with a double to lead the way. That double was the lone extra base hit allowed by Simeone.

Starter Garrett Gainey (4-2) took the loss, allowing all three runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings of work. He struck out four and walked a pair.

The two teams will resume the series on Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm.