BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Redshirt-sophomore Matt Ilgenfritz went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI as the Gardner-Webb (5-4) baseball team took down Mercyhurst (1-6) 6-2 in the final game of a four-game set on Sunday afternoon at Bill Masters Field.

Junior infielder Tanner Thomas also collected two hits with a run scored and batted in for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Junior reliever Jerek Hobb picked up the win after tossing 2.0 innings while allowing just a single hit and striking out two.

After holding the Lakers scoreless in the top of the first, Gardner-Webb wasted no time taking an early lead, plating a pair in the home half of the opening frame. Senior Lawson Knight led things off with a hit-by-pitch before stealing second. Thomas singled through the right side to plate the game's first run. Redshirt-senior Nick Capozzi added a sacrifice fly in the at-bat for GWU.

Mercyhurst's Landon Diber produced an RBI hit in the second to cut the 'Dawgs lead in half, but Gardner-Webb posted two more scores in the bottom half while extending the lead to 4-1. An infield single by junior Ryan Kennell followed by a throwing error allowed the pair of runs to come across.

The Lakers picked up a run in the visitor's half of the fifth following an RBI double off the bat of Jayden Walker. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs would not be outdone, pushing across two more runs in the fifth after RBI hits from Ilgenfritz and Knight.

The remainder of the game went scoreless as the Gardner-Webb relief staff slammed the door on any attempt at a comeback for Mercyhurst as the Lakers mustered only a single hit over the final four innings of play.

Gardner-Webb will return to action on Tuesday, February 25, traveling to Columbia, S.C. to take on the Gamecocks of South Carolina. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.