HIGH POINT, N.C. – Gardner-Webb scored four runs in the top of the 10th inning to advance past No. 3 UNC Asheville Thursday night in the 2022 Ingles Big South Conference Baseball Championship.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (24-35) got a three-run double from Peter Capobianco to create some cushion after taking a 6-5 lead on a bases loaded walk. GWU will have a quick turnaround, playing No. 1 seed Campbell in less than 12 hours at Truist Point.

UNC Asheville staked itself to a 3-0 lead with a big first inning, taking advantage of an uncharacteristic two-error inning by the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Gardner-Webb scratched a run across in the top of the second, getting a leadoff single from Daegan Brady and an RBI single from Jacob Marcos to cut the Asheville lead to 3-1. The No. 3 seeded Bulldogs got that run back in the bottom fo the second.

With Maggi closing down the Asheville offense with an effective mix of fastball and slider, Gardner-Webb slugger Alec Burns hit a moon shot over the wall in left for a solo home run and a 4-2 score in the top of the fifth.

Peter Capobianco started a quick burst in the sixth that pulled Gardner-Webb within one run. He was hit by an 0-2 fastball and, after Brady singled up the middle to put runners on the corners, Bo Rusher III delivered a sacrifice fly to deep center for a 4-3 score.

Gardner-Webb had a golden opportunity in the seventh. Marcos led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but Asheville reliever JP Perez bounced back with a pair of strikeouts to leave Marcos on second.

The 'Dogs got another base runner in the eighth when Rusher was plunked with two outs. Humberto Torres reached on a hustle play with an infield single and Alex Ray delivered a clutch hit up the middle to score pinch runner Nate Anderson and tie the game. The throw home was offline, allowing Ray to reach second base and Marcos was intentionally walked to set up a lefty-lefty matchup between Perez and Jones.

Perez got out of the jam with the score tied, inducing a chopper to second base to end the threat.

UNC Asheville retook the lead with a run in the bottom of the eighth, but Curtis Robison nd Brady teamed up to pull even in the top of the ninth.

Robison belted a ground rule double into right center and Brady followed with an RBI hit up the middle for a 5-5 score. UNC Asheville could not scratch in the ninth and the Gardner-Webb won the game in the 10th.

Humberto Torres was hit by a pitch to lead of the inning and, after a pair of pop ups, AJ Jones was hit by a pitch with two away. Burns drew a walk to load the bases and Robison followed with a walk on four pitches to drive home Torres for a 6-5 lead.

Capobianco then came through with the big blow, ripping a line drive deep to left to clear the bases. Asheville scored one run in the bottom of the 10th, but Michael Portella closed the door to seal the win.

Kyle Skidmore (3-1) picked up the relief win, working 1.2 scoreless frames. Portella earned this the save with his effort in the 10th. Connor Maggi was the star on the mound, coming on to hurl 4.1 innings of strong relief, allowing just one run with six strikeouts to keep Gardner-Webb in the game.

The 'Dogs had 10 hits, with Brady going 3-for-6. Marcos was 2-for-4 at the dish and five other GWU hitters had at least one hit.

UNC Asheville got five hits from Dominic Freeberger and four from Robbie Burnett in the loss.

Spencer Hill (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs in 0.2 innings of relief.