BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb plated three runs with two outs in the 11th inning to rally for a 7-6 win over Delaware State when Tyler Best dashed home on a wild pitch.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-0) trailed 6-4 and were down to their final out when Gage Parham bounced a high chopper over the pitcher's glove to bring the tying run to the plate. Pinch hitter Andrew Massey blooped a double just inside the left field line to put men on second and third and Best followed with an infield single to third that drove home Parham to cut the lead to one run.

Pinch runner Peyton McGuire scored easily on a wild pitch to tie the game and the ball caromed far enough away from the Hornets' catcher that Best moved from first to third. Paul Trick stepped into the batter's box with a chance to drive home the game winner, but a 2-1 pitch got away once more – allowing Best to score.

Delaware State (0-1) used its own two-out rally to take a two-run lead in the top half of the 11th. Freshman hurler Tyler Johnson came out of the pen for GWU and recorded two easy outs in his first career appearance. A two-out single by catcher Sam Barber seemed harmless, but nine-hole hitter Devin Beverly roped a low line drive that found the gap in right center and rolled to the warning track for an RBI triple – and a 5-4 Hornets' lead.

Leadoff man Darnell Maisonet laced an opposite field single through the left side to drive home Beverly, giving the visitors a two-run lead and zapping the energy from a strong opening day crowd of 433 in John Henry Moss Stadium / Bill Masters Field.

Johnson shook off the base knocks, however, and got another ground ball to end the frame.

Delaware State scored a pair of unearned runs to begin its scoring Friday in the top of the first, using a hit batter, an error and a walk to load the bases quickly. A well-executed double play slowed the rally, but Maisonet was able to score to give the Hornets an early 1-0 lead. Jacob Bartlett then laced a single into center to drive home Kwestin Smith for a 2-0 advantage.

Gardner-Webb starter Brad Haymes recovered to get out of the jam and his team would put the 'Dogs on top in the third.

Taylor Fisher led off the inning and was hit by a pitch, then Best singled up the middle. Newcomer Danny Sullivan singled home both runners to tie the score to begin a strong day at the plate. Sullivan, a 2015 NJCAA All-America selection at Catawba Valley (N.C.) Community College, swiped second base during the next at bat, and moved all the way to third when the pitch bounced to the backstop.

Collin Thacker put Gardner-Webb in front with an RBI single before DSU ace Lane DeLeon could get back into the dugout.

The Hornets reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth, getting a single from Maisonet and a walk from Smith to set the table. Cameron Onderko roped a two-run single to right to put Delaware State on top 4-3. Haymes rolled a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat, however, and Gardner-Webb would rally in the bottom half to tie.

Sullivan ripped a double into left to start things with one out and moved to third on a wild pitch. Thacker came through with a foul ball deep enough to right to drive home Sullivan and the score would remain the same until the 11th inning.

Gardner-Webb reliever Wil Sellers came on and was masterful to keep the game knotted. The Kings Mountain, N.C., sophomore worked five scoreless frames, allowed only two hits and fanned five batters.

Delaware State reliever Cole Davis – a freshman – came on and matched Sellers, however, hurling 3.2 innings out of the pen without allowing a hit.

Sullivan finally gave GWU a chance in the 10th, ripping a one-out single to right and swiping second with two away. Hornets' righty Hunter McVey ended the threat, getting a fly ball to right field to strand the junior third baseman and set up his team's rally in the 11th.

Johnson (1-0) picked up the relief win for Gardner-Webb, facing six batters in the top of the 11th. Haymes worked 5.0 innings in a no decision start, allowing two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts, with Sellers coming on for another in a growing list of strong relief appearances.

McVey (0-1) was saddled with the loss, working 2.2 innings and allowing three runs on four hits – with two wild pitches.

Gardner-Webb had 10 hits in the game, with Sullivan stuffing the box score with a 3-for-5 effort, two RBI, two stolen bases and two runs scored (one double). Best (2-for-6, 2 runs), Massey (1-for-1, 2B), Trick (1-for-5), Thacker (1-for-4, 2 RBI), Patrick Graham (1-for-5) and Parham (1-for-2) also had this for the 'Dogs.

The Hornets collected 11 hits Friday, with Maisonet (2-for-4, 2 runs), Bentley (2-for-5, RBI) and Barber (2-for-5, run) leading that charge.

The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday in Boiling Springs, with the first game beginning at Noon. The series will wrap on Sunday at 1:00 pm with a single game.