BOILING SPRINGS – Ty Boyles belted a two-out, solo home run to tie the game in the seventh, and Daniel Cooke lined a double to left center with two on in the eighth to lift Gardner-Webb to a 9-8 win over Lafayette.

The game was scheduled for seven innings and was part of a Monday doubleheader. The nightcap was canceled after the opener went into extra innings.

Gardner-Webb (8-6) won its second game in a row, but needed some late heroics from veterans Boyles, Cooke and others to make that happen.

Lafayette (7-4) went up 1-0 in the third inning, sandwiching back-to-back singles around a wild pitch. GWU starter Jonathon Ban recovered, however, getting a fly ball, ground ball and strikeout to end the inning.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs would go up 3-1 in the fourth, as Brock Miller walked and Cooke reached after being hit by a pitch. Justin Loyd the hammered a fastball deep to center for a two-run double, and later scored on a Kurt Fulginiti single to rattle Lafayette starter Zach Fritz.

The Leopards tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, but saw Gardner-Webb answer right back – with Jon Ahearn leading off with a single, swiping second base and scoring on Tyler Johnson’s single to left. Johnson moved to third on a throwing error and an infield single, and would later put GWU up 5-3 by stealing home on an attempted run down.

Lafayette plated two runs in the sixth to tie the game, but saw Johnson and Loyd deliver RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth to put the ‘Dogs back in front. The Leopards were opportunistic in the seventh to take a one-run lead, however, plating three runs on just two singles that rolled through the infield.

The Leopards cut the lead to one run on an RBI walk with the bases loaded by Justin Shepard, then tied the game on a ground out by A.J. Pissari. After an intentional walk loaded the bases again, Lafayette took the lead when Jeff Butler was hit by a pitch – giving the visitors a 9-8 lead – before reliever Brett Stackhouse could get himself out of the inning.

Lafayette closer Brian Mostek got two quick outs in Gardner-Webb’s final at bat, but became too fond of his fastball with the clutch-hitting Boyles at the plate. His 3-1 fastball was hammered well beyond the wall in left – a game-tying shot that was Boyles’ fifth round tripper of the season.

The long ball energized the Runnin’ Bulldogs, and allowed Stackhouse a return to the bump where he retired the Leopards in the top of the eighth with only one base runner. Stackhouse fanned two batters in the frame, giving Gardner-Webb a chance to win in its final at bat.

Ahearn led off the eighth with a single to left and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt for the top of the Bulldog order. Brock Miller was intentionally walked to set up a potential double play, but the move did not pay off. Cooke, a senior, lined a 1-2 pitch to left center for a double that easily scored Ahearn for the game winner.

Stackhouse (2-2) picked up the win in relief, tossing 2.2 innings, striking out three and settling down nicely and making several clutch pitches late. Ban, the starter, allowed just three earned runs and fanned seven batters in 5.1 solid innings.

Joseph Verdon (0-2) was saddled with the loss, facing two batters in the eighth, and allowing the winning run to reach base.

Gardner-Webb was effective on offense, collecting 13 hits, stealing seven bases and stranding only five runners on a cold and rainy day in Boiling Springs. Miller (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 SB), Cooke (2-for-3, RBI, SB), Loyd (2-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI, SB), Ahearn (2-for-3, 2 runs, SB) and Johnson (2-for-3, 2 RBI, SB) paced that attack, with Boyles (1-for-4, HR, RBI), Fulginiti (1-for-3, RBI) and Rizzuto (1-for-3, run) also collecting clutch hits for an improving offense.

Lafayette had 11 hits, but stranded 11 runners, and struck out 10 times on the day. Leadoff man Rob Froio (4-for-4, 2 2B, 2 runs, RBI) proved to be a thorn for the hosts and was joined by Weiss (2-for-4) and Pissari (2-for-4, 2 RBI) with multiple hits.

Gardner-Webb will host Rider on Tuesday at 1:00 pm ET in a doubleheader. Both games are scheduled for seven innings. GWU and Rider will also play on Wednesday afternoon at 3 pm ET.