BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb used a six-run burst in the fifth inning to power past Radford 16-0 Saturday afternoon in the second game of their Big South series.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (17-9, 6-2 Big South) scored twice in the first inning and never looked back.

The offensive production worked well with southpaw Tyler Switalski in a groove on the mound. The sophomore tossed 7.0 shutout innings for his sixth win of the season.

Jacob Marcos led off the bottom of the first with a single and Mark Black bounced a double down the left field line to put a pair in scoring position. Jacob McCaskey came through with a clutch hit, driving a two-run single up the middle for the early lead.

Black and McCaskey struck again in the third for Gardner-Webb, with Black lacing a hard double into left field with one out. McCaskey came through again with a two-out hit, belting an RBI double into right center for a 3-0 lead.

Gardner-Webb used some two-out magic again in the fifth to put the game on ice.

Black started the rally with a single up the middle, then Alec Burns reached on a fielder's choice – and the ball was booted to allow Black to slide safely into second.

McCaskey had his third big hit with two outs, homering to right field for a 6-0 lead. Nate Anderson followed with a single to right, stole second and scored on Peter Capobianco's two-run home run – a majestic blast – to left field.

Bo Rusher III followed with a solo home run to right for a 9-0 lead.

Anderson led off the bottom of the seventh with a sharp single into right, stole second and scampered to third when the throw down sailed into center field. Rusher then delivered a bloop single into shallow center that stretched the lead to double digits.

Gardner-Webb tacked on six runs in the bottom of the eighth for its final total.

Anderson walked with the bases loaded to push the lead to 11-0 and Max Smyley delivered a sacrifice fly to right that plated Humberto Torres for a 12-0 margin. Nick Capozzi came through with an infield single to push the lead to 13-0 and Trevor Mattson belted a three-run home run with two outs for the last runs of the day for GWU.

Switalski (6-1) was sharp early and continued to barrel through the Radford order, allowing just two hits – all singles – in his 7.0 shutout frames. He fanned 10, walked three and rolled four ground ball outs.

Grant Vera came on to work a scoreless eighth out of the pen and Luke Goodyear pitched a scoreless ninth to complete the shutout.

McCaskey had a day, going 4-for-6 with six RBI – all with two outs – to pace an 18-hit attack for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Black (3-for-4, 3 runs), Mattson (3-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Anderson (2-for-4, 3 runs) and Rusher (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) also had multiple hits for Gardner-Webb.

Dylan Howard (1-3) took the loss, allowing nine runs (three earned) on 12 hits over 5.0 innings pitched. Four different batters collected one hit each for the Highlanders (7-20, 0-5 Big South).

Gardner-Webb and Radford will wrap up the series on Sunday at 1:00 pm (ESPN+).