BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb (13-13, 3-4) baseball team fell to High Point (16-9, 5-2), 10–3, on Friday evening in John Henry Moss Stadium to open the weekend series.

High Point struck first with a run in the opening inning, but Gardner-Webb responded in the third to briefly take the lead. Merik Carter and Ryan Kennell helped spark the inning as the Runnin' Bulldogs plated two runs to move in front 2–1. Kelvin Agosto delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home a run, and Matt Ilgenfritz later added an RBI double as Gardner-Webb capitalized on early opportunities.

The Panthers answered with a run in the fifth to tie the game and added another in the sixth to reclaim the lead. High Point then broke the game open in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to stretch the margin. The Panthers continued to add insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings to pull away.

Gardner-Webb starter Oliver Ellison battled through six innings on the mound, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out seven. The Runnin' Bulldogs bullpen saw action from Jerek Hobb, Colby Humphries, and Brendan Lysik over the final three frames.

Offensively, the Runnin' Bulldogs collected seven hits in the contest. Kennell led the way with a pair of knocks, while Carter, Agosto, Ilgenfritz, Drew Ripepi, and Thad Ector each added a hit.

Gardner-Webb scored its final run in the seventh inning when Ilgenfritz drove in Agosto to trim the deficit, but the Dawgs were unable to slow the Panthers' late offensive surge.

The Runnin' Bulldogs and Panthers will continue the Big South Conference series on Saturday afternoon in Boiling Springs. First pitch from Bill Masters Field is slated for 3 p.m.