HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb (16-32, 5-14) baseball team blasted three homeruns, but it was not enough as the Runnin' Bulldogs dropped a 16-5 decision in the first of a three-game series at conference-leading High Point (34-15, 15-4) on Friday evening inside Williard Stadium.

Redshirt sophomore catcher Bennett Shealor led GWU with a long ball and three RBIs while Nick Capozzi and Tanner Thomas also drove in a run on the night.

High Point took an early lead in the home half of the first after Konni Durschlag led things off with a solo homerun to left field. However, after going scoreless over the first three innings, the 'Dawgs finally jumped on the board with a two-spot in the top of the fourth following a pair of solo shots off the bats of Capozzi and Thomas, giving GWU a 2-1 advantage.

That lead did not last long as the Panthers came right back with three runs in the bottom of the frame, benefiting off back-to-back homers from James Murphy and Frank Kelly. HPU blew the game wide open with 12 more runs over the next three half innings, ballooning its lead to a commanding spread of 16-2.

The Runnin' Bulldogs were able to chip into the deficit in the top of the eighth after Shealor, in a pinch-hitting role, took a first pitch fastball over the center field wall for a three-run blast. However, that was the last of the scoring for either side as High Point took game one by the final of 16-5.

Game two will take place tomorrow afternoon with a first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.