BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb (2-3) baseball team broke out the bats on Tuesday evening, torching the visiting Davidson (1-2) Wildcats by the final of 12-2 in seven innings.
 
Gardner-Webb struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first while taking the early lead. Senior center fielder Lawson Knight started the frame with a leadoff walk before coming around to score on a delayed steal of home. Redshirt-senior designated hitter Dale Francis Jr. continued his stellar work at the plate with an RBI single to right field.
 
The Wildcats bounced back to tie the contest at 2-all with a pair of runs in the top of the third following RBI hits from Forrest Lietz and Jamie Daly. However, Gardner-Webb earned one of those runs back in the home half of the frame after junior shortstop Ryan Kennell launched a solo homerun to left center.
 
After holding Davidson scoreless in the fourth, the 'Dawgs padded their lead with four runs on two hits. A pair of free passes aided GWU to begin the at-bat before a passed ball and wild pitch plated catcher Garrett Macias. Junior second baseman Merik Carter added his first hit of the season, an RBI single to center. Kennell and Francis Jr. also added RBIs with a sacrifice fly and base hit, respectively.
 
Davidson threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with one out, but right-handed pitcher John Pfeffer came in and shut the door on a rally while preserving the GWU lead.
 
A series of hectic plays favored the Runnin' Bulldogs in the bottom of the seventh as Gardner-Webb was able to push across five runs to end the game in run-rule fashion, the big blow coming off the bat of junior first baseman Tanner Thomas who roped a ground-rule double over the right fielder's head, scoring Macias and Carter.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to the diamond on Friday, February 21as they play host to the Lakers of Mercyhurst University. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.