BOX SCORE
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Dusty Quattlebaum's infield single with two outs in the top of the 10th inning knocked home the winning run for Gardner-Webb in a 2-1 Big South series-opening victory over Radford on Friday night.
 
Benji Jackson led off the Runnin' Bulldog (26-21, 8-8 Big South) half of the 10th with a single to center field, moved to second on a sacrifice, then third on a groundout to the right side before Quattlebaum's hit to the left side of the infield brought him in for the win.
 
Both starting pitchers were impressive and neither factored into the decision. Eddie Butler went eight innings for Radford (25-19, 10-6) and matched a career-high with 10 strikeouts, allowing just a fifth inning run on seven hits.  Gardner-Webb freshman Matt Fraudin posted a career-best eight-plus innings and fanned seven hitters, giving up a run on six hits. 
 
Jeff Howell, who came into the game in the ninth for Gardner-Webb, earned the win (3-3). 
 
Radford trailed 1-0 heading to the ninth inning, but tied the game on Patrick Marshall's ground out to the right side, scoring Josh Gardiner from third.  Gardiner singled to begin the ninth, then went to third on Brett Mollenhauer's hit to center field.
 
Mollenhauer and Gardiner led the Highlanders with two hits each.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs put 10 hits on the board and struck first in the fifth.  Scott Johnson got the first of his two hits to lead off the inning, then came home two plays later when Henry Rundio laced a drive to left center field to give Gardner-Webb the 1-0 lead.
 
Both teams had chances to break through early.  In the top of the first, Radford loaded the bases with one out, but Gardner-Webb got a double play to end the inning and leave the Highlanders empty-handed. 
 
In the second, Gardner-Webb loaded the bases with one out, but Butler induced a ground ball to get the Scott Coleman coming home, then got a strikeout of Rundio to end the inning.
 
Butler worked into the eighth for the sixth consecutive start.
 
Jason Patten took the relief loss for the Highlanders (2-3).  Patten came on in the ninth and left the potential winning run stranded in scoring position, striking out Johnson to end the inning.
 
The series continues with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday.