BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb took down Detroit Mercy 8-0 to start the final day of the Red & Black Classic in what was head coach Bailey Wigness' 100^th career win.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs started hot out of the gate, scoring four runs in the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Kasey Fava walked and stole second before Andrea Lyon homered over the left field wall in the bottom of the first.
 
In the second inning, Emily Garcia singled to center field and Fava beat out a bunt to put runners on first and second. Lyon then doubled to left, scoring both runners.
 
With a 4-0 advantage in the third, Taylor Perry walked and took two bases on wild pitches. Kiara Kennedy doubled to right center and scored Perry from third to make it 5-0.
 
Taylor Dreher singled to shortstop to start the fourth. With four RBIs in the game already, Lyon homered again to left field, adding two more to her tally. Perry followed with a double down the left field line. Alexa Key came in to pinch run and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Freshman Annicka McLaughlin bunted and scored Key from third, giving Gardner-Webb an 8-0 lead.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs held Detroit Mercy scoreless in the fifth and ended the game early.
 
Lyon was 3-3 with six RBIs on two homeruns and a double. Perry, Kennedy, and Adrienne Visintine all doubled, and four 'dogs hit singles in the game one: Fava, McLaughlin, Dreher, and Bella Ligotti.
 
Alli Stidham pitched all five innings for Gardner-Webb. She gave up no runs and struck out seven Titans.
 
"I'm just really grateful for every single person I've coached and every coach that has been on my staff," said Wigness about her career milestone. "No one does it alone. I am grateful that it was this team I got to celebrate this with, and I am looking forward to many more at Gardner-Webb."
 
In game two, GWU hosted Sacred Heart in the final game of the tourney.
 
The Pioneers took an early lead, scoring a run in the second, and two in the third.
 
Down 3-0, the 'dogs responded in the bottom of the inning. Kasey Fava singled and stole second. Annicka McLaughlin and Andrea Lyon both walked and loaded the bases with two outs. Adrienne Visintine also walked, scoring a run. Next, McLaughlin scored on a wild pitch and brought the team within one.
 
Sacred Heart went on to score seven more runs to Gardner-Webb's one and took game two.
 
Kalyn Kyle started in the circle. Alli Stidham replaced her in the fourth, and Clara Wyatt threw the last two innings.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs are next in action Wednesday, March 8, when they will host No. 13 Virginia Tech. First pitch is set for 5:00 P.M. on ESPN+