BOILING SPRINGS –  Joe Simeone put together another strong start and Gardner-Webb used two big innings to power an 11-3 win over Presbyterian in Friday night's series opener.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (18-32, 8-11 Big South) stranded six runners over the first three innings of what was an early pitchers' duel. The fourth inning proved to be the breakthrough moment for Gardner-Webb with five hits and five runs to take control.

GWU batted around, with Benino Mendella leading off with a single to start the big rally. Alex Ray followed with a bunt and reached for an infield single and Jacob Marcos bunted both men over. Bo Rusher III broke the scoreless tie by slicing an RBI single into left for a 1-0 lead – and Alec Burns broke the game open with a line drive over the fence in left center. His three-run bomb put GWU up 4-0 and the 'Dogs weren't done. 

Curtis Robison reached on an error to keep the inning alive and Humberto Torres ripped a double into left center for a 5-0 lead before Blue Hose starter Charlie McDaniel could get out of the jam.

Gardner-Webb kept the pressure on in the fifth, taking advantage of a fielding error to bat around again. Mendella again led off with a single, this time up the middle, and Marcos reached on an error after a sacrifice bunt from Ray. A delayed steal allowed Mendella to score and Burns roped an RBI double down the line to score Marcos for a 7-0 lead.

Robison came through with another big hit, this time driving home Burns with an RBI single to right – and Daegan Brady pushed the lead to 9-0 with an RBI single to third base.

Presbyterian (22-26, 9-10 Big South) finally scratched in the top of the sixth, getting a two-run home run to deep right from leadoff man Jay Weatherington to cut Gardner-Webb's lead to 9-2. The Blue Hose scored again in the top of the eighth for a 9-3 lead, but Simeone worked out of that inning with his team still comfortably in front.

The Runnin' Bulldogs scored two more runs in the bottom half of the eighth, getting a single from Torres and an RBI double from Mendella to get to 10 runs. AJ Jones drew a walk prior to Mendella's double and scored on a passed ball to give Gardner-Webb an 11-3 edge.

Luke Goodyear came on to relieve Simeone in the ninth and worked around a single to end the game.

Simeone (8-5) picked up another conference win, fanning a career-high 13 batters in 8.0 innings of work. He scattered seven hits, did not issue a walk and allowed only three runs in the victory.

Gardner-Webb rapped out 15 hits, paced by Robison (3-for-5), Mendella (3-for-3), Burns (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI), Torres (2-for-4) and Brady (2-for-4). Burns home run was his ninth of the season.

Presbyterian's McDaniel (7-3) was tagged with his third loss of the season, allowing four earned runs on 12 hits in 4.2 innings. He walked a pair and fanned three.

The Blue Hose had seven hits, with seven different batters collecting on apiece.

The two teams will play again on Saturday, with first pitch set for 4:00 pm. Gardner-Webb will honor its seven seniors prior to the game. Phil Constantino will call the action on ESPN+.