Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Gardner-Webb collected a season-high 13 hits and defeated La Salle 9-3 in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon at Gene Masters Field.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (5-2) captured the series as well, topping the Explorers (2-3) for the second day in a row.

Dusty Quattlebaum belted a solo home run to right in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead and Henry Rundio drilled an RBI double off the left field fence in the second inning for a 2-0 lead.

La Salle tied the score with a pair of runs in the third, getting RBI singles from Jon Gyles and Marc Schoch.

Rundio gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the lead for good in the fourth, driving home Brad Collins with a ground out for a 3-2 lead. Scott Johnson then pushed the lead to 4-2 with a single through the left side to plate Adam McFarland. Gardner-Webb loaded the bases with two outs, but Scott Coleman's deep drive was tracked down just shy of the fence in left center to end the inning.

La Salle cut the lead to 4-3 after George Smith, Jr., led off the fifth with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jeff Flax - but Hilton ended his outing with a strikeout to preserve the lead for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Gardner-Webb put the game away in the sixth. Benji Jackson reached on a throwing error to lead off the inning and moved to third when Johnson executed a hit-and-run with a sharp single to right center. Quattlebaum followed with a deep line drive to right for a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 5-3, Johnson scored on a passed ball to give Gardner-Webb a 6-3 lead and Ryan Hodge dropped a double into left field to drive in Scott Coleman for a comfortable 7-3 advantage.

Jackson launched a two-run home run to right with one out in the seventh for the final margin of victory.

Hilton (2-0) picked up his second win in as many starts, scattering five hits and allowing three runs in 5.0 innings pitched (3 strikeouts). Matt Fraudin (2.0 IP), Jeff Howell (1.0 IP) and Brandon Boling (1.0 IP) kept the Explorers off the scoreboard to preserve the lead.

Johnson (2-for-5, RBI), Scott Coleman (2-for-4, run) and Adam McFarland (2-for-3, run) each had multiple hits for Gardner-Webb to pace the 13-hit effort. Rundio (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB), Jackson (1-for-4, 2 runs, HR, 2 RBI) and Quattlebaum (1-for-3, HR, run, 2 RBI) each had two RBI in the game. The Runnin' Bulldogs had 10 different players collect hits Sunday.

La Salle starter Dominic Sgroi (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of work (5 strikeouts, 2 walks). Schoch (3-for-4, RBI) and Smith, Jr., (2-for-3, 3B, 2 runs) powered the Explorers' 7-hit effort offensively.

The Explorers will now look towards their home opener, scheduled for Tuesday at 3 p.m. against Lafayette at Hank DeVincent Field.  Live coverage will be avaiable on GoExplorers.com.