Gardner-Webb (3-1, 0-0 Big South) at

South Carolina (2-1, 0-0 SEC) 

SINGLE GAME SET

Wednesday, February 18, 4 p.m. – RHP Parker Dixon

Hot Start to the Season: The Runnin' Bulldogs opened the 2026 season with a 3-1 record over visiting Valpo February 13-14, the best start since the 2020 team began the season winning four of its first five games.

Against the Beacons: Gardner-Webb welcomed Valpo to John Henry Moss Stadium for the ninth time in series history. Winners in 5-of-8 previously, the Runnin' Bulldogs asserted its dominance early in game one following a walkoff two-RBI single from newcomer Kelvin Agosto.

In total, the Runnin' Bulldogs pushed across a conference-leading 36 runs while allowing 21 runs over four games. As a team, GWU is batting a blistering .397 to go along with a .579 slugging percentage, .466 on-base percentage and 1.045 OPS.

Catcher Zack Thompson led the way with an impressive .714 batting average after collecting 10 hits in 14 at-bats, including two doubles and a triple. The senior from LaGrange, Georgia tallied 14 total bases and five RBIs.

Designated hitter Alejandro Sanchez also had a standout performance at the dish, going 7-for-10 with three doubles and a pair of triples while driving in six runs. Left fielder Kelvion Agosto led the Diamond Dawgs with 10 runs batted in while hitting .375. Merik Carter and Matt Ilgenfritz provided the power for Gardner-Webb after each hit a solo shot in the series.

On the mound, Reid Bertram dazzled in his first start of the season, tossing a complete game while allowing just six hits and one run in the series finale. Bertram also picked up five strikeouts. Freshman Colby Putnam, making his collegiate debut, earned his first career save after throwing 3.0 innings of no hit, no run baseball in a 7-3 game two win for Gardner-Webb.

Series with the Gamecocks: Gardner-Webb travels to Columbia for the third time in three years and sixth overall. South Carolina holds a 4-2 advantage in the series, winners of four in a row. The Runnin' Bulldogs took the first two games against the Gamecocks in 2019 (10-2) and 2013 (7-6).

Scouting the Gamecocks: Carolina comes into the contest with a 2-1 overall record after an opening weekend series with Northern Kentucky. The Gamecocks took game 1 & 2 with final scores of 5-2 and 6-5, respectively, before falling 3-2 in the finale.

Leading the way offensively is Tyler Bak after batting .333 in three games. Bak also leads the Gamecocks with four RBIs. KJ Scobey went 4-for-13 (.308) at the plate while Dawson Harman and Talmadge LeCroy each carried a .300 batting average. South Carolina smashed four homeruns against NKU.

The Gamecocks have a 3.33 team earned run average after five different pitchers threw three or more innings over the weekend. Alex Valentin made a team-high two appearances, pitching effectively in both after not allowing a run and only two hits over 4.1 innings.