SHELBY, N.C. (Interstat) — Colby Putnam delivered a dominant relief performance and the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs erupted for four runs in the eighth inning to secure a 7-2 victory over the Longwood Lancers in Big South Conference baseball action Saturday at John Henry Moss Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, saw Gardner-Webb even the weekend series after Longwood’s win on Friday. The Lancers fell to 14-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while the Runnin’ Bulldogs improved to 11-8 and 1-1.

Longwood struck immediately in the first inning against Gardner-Webb starter Matthew Stuart. After a leadoff strikeout, third baseman Jon Howard launched a solo home run to left-center field. Blake Pulliam later added an RBI double to give the Lancers a quick 2-0 advantage.

Gardner-Webb answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first against Longwood starter Joe Castrichini, capitalizing on a Merik Carter double, a walk and key singles from Matt Ilgenfritz and Ryan Kennell. The rally tied the game and prompted an early pitching change, bringing in Longwood’s Brady Hoover.

From there, the game transformed into a pitchers’ duel. Hoover was brilliant in long relief for the Lancers, holding the Runnin’ Bulldogs without a hit over 6 1/3 innings. However, he was matched by Gardner-Webb’s Putnam, who entered with two on and one out in the fourth inning.

Putnam, whose previous outing on March 8 against Oklahoma State saw him allow four earned runs in three innings, was nearly flawless. He stifled the Longwood offense, working 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and striking out four to earn the win. His effort completely shifted the game’s momentum.

The most important part of the game arrived in the bottom of the eighth inning, with Gardner-Webb clinging to a 3-2 lead it had taken in the sixth on Kennell’s second RBI single. The Runnin’ Bulldogs broke it open against the Longwood bullpen. With two on and one out, pinch-hitter Diego Guevara delivered a two-run single to left field. Ethan Liao followed with a two-run double down the right-field line, capping the four-run outburst and providing crucial insurance runs.

Howard was a bright spot for Longwood, finishing 3 for 4 with the early home run. Kennell led Gardner-Webb’s 12-hit attack, going a perfect 3 for 3 with two RBIs. Ilgenfritz added two hits and an RBI.

The decisive victory for Gardner-Webb defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a high-scoring 8-7 win for Longwood, though the Runnin’ Bulldogs were given a 60.5% probability to win by the same service’s ELO rating system.

The teams conclude the three-game conference series Sunday afternoon at John Henry Moss Stadium.