GREENSBORO, N.C. - Redshirt freshman Aaron Haynes pitched 7.0 strong innings Thursday, sparking Gardner-Webb to an 8-3 win over North Carolina A&T at War Memorial Stadium.

Haynes, who played at nearby Burns (N.C.) High, scattered six hits, fanned two and allowed just two earned runs in his first career mound start. The righthander is now 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two appearances this season.

Haynes' effort provided a huge physical lift for Gardner-Webb (7-6), saving a tired bullpen for a scheduled three-game weekend series with Lafayette that is set to begin Saturday in Boiling Springs.

The 'Dogs struck first, plating single runs in each of the first three inning, with the Aggies (3-10) keeping pace to tie the game 3-3 with a run in the bottom of the third.

Haynes would shut the door after that, and a three-run burst for Gardner-Webb in the top of the fourth to take the lead for good. Bubbie Spake provided the dagger in the fifth, belting an opposite field, two-run bomb - his fifth of the season - to give the 'Dogs an 8-3 lead.

Gardner-Webb managed nine hits, with Jon Ahearn going 2-for-4 with a career-high four stolen bases. Matt Rizzuto a (2-for-3) also had two hits for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who stole six bases as a team and have a Big South-best 39 through 13 games this season, and are on pace to shatter the 2008 school record of 151 steals. Spake, O.J. McFarland (double), Justin Loyd, Daniel Cooke and Aaron Miller each had one hit to round out the Bulldog offense for the day.

Gardner-Webb will return home to face Lafayette in a Saturday doubleheader (March 14) beginning at Noon ET on Masters Field.