BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb stormed back late to overcome a big deficit late in the contest and prevailed in extra innings to defeat Charleston Southern in the series opener on Thursday evening.
 
The Buccaneers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the contest. AJ Martin had a two-run home run in the third while Nathan Martinez had an RBI double to cap off the inning. In the fourth, Chandler Tuupo had a two-run home run of his own.
 
Gardner-Webb got their first run of the day off a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth to cut their deficit to 5-1.
 
In the seventh, Charleston Southern's Lucas Pringle drove a single up the middle that scored Martin. After this, in the eighth, Kaden Smith had an RBI single to right field followed by a Martin double down the line that drove Smith home to push their lead to 8-1.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Gardner-Webb cut it to 8-2. They then put up six runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. A double to the warning track and off the wall in the 10^th proved to be the difference and gave them the victory.
 
Ryan Cole had the start and tossed 6.2 frames for the second longest outing of his CSU career. He allowed just one earned run during his time on the mound while giving up six hits and a walk. Ryan DuSang was first out of the bullpen and had 1.1 innings of work where he struck out three batters while giving up an unearned run, one hit and one walk. Chris Foster, Kyle Lewis and Hayden Henry were also used.
 
Martin led the team at the plate with three hits and three RBIs. Collins also had multiple hits on the day with two while each of the other seven players in the lineup had a hit.
 
The two teams return to Bill Masters Field tomorrow afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The game will be