SHELBY, N.C. (Interstat) — Gardner-Webb rallied past Winthrop 7-6 in 10 innings Sunday afternoon at John Henry Moss Stadium, earning a series split in the Big South matchup.

The Runnin Bulldogs improved to 20-24 overall and 7-11 in conference play. The Eagles fell to 28-16 and 9-7.

Winthrop struck first and fast. Leadoff batter Natividad singled through the left side, and Hernandez followed with a two-run homer to left field, putting the Eagles ahead 2-0. Wouters, Skowronski and Benhardt each made outs to end the top of the first.

Gardner-Webb answered immediately. Carter walked and stole second, Kennell walked, and Agosto launched a three-run homer to left center, scoring Carter and Kennell to tie the game. Ilgenfritz doubled, Ripepi grounded out, Hausner lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Ilgenfritz, and Sanchez flied out. The Runnin Bulldogs led 4-2 after one.

Both teams traded empty innings in the second. In the third, Hernandez singled for Winthrop but was left stranded. Gardner-Webb went down in order.

In the fourth, Hausner doubled, Sanchez singled, and after a pitching change, Shealor singled through the left side to bring home Hausner. Ector reached on a fielder’s choice, and Carter singled to plate Sanchez, pushing the lead to 6-2.

Winthrop tied it in the fifth. Greenberg singled, and WilsonE hit a two-run homer to left field. Natividad singled, Hernandez was hit by a pitch, and after a pitching change, Wouters reached on a fielder’s choice, but Natividad was retired at third. Skowronski lined into a double play.

The game remained tied 6-6 from that point through regulation. Winthrop’s Crowley homered to right center in the sixth for a brief lead, but Gardner-Webb could not answer. In the seventh, Winthrop loaded the bases with one out but Benhardt flied out. In the eighth, Grossington walked, advanced on groundouts, but WilsonE fouled out. Gardner-Webb threatened in the eighth with a Ector single, but Carter flied out.

In the top of the ninth, Natividad singled, Hernandez flied out, Wouters singled, and after a pinch runner, Skowronski hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Natividad to give Winthrop a 7-6 lead. Benhardt popped out.

Gardner-Webb stranded a Ilgenfritz single in the bottom of the ninth to force extras.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the 10th. Liao, who entered as a defensive replacement in the top of the eighth, led off with a single to left field. Sanchez flied out to center. Shealor singled through the right side, moving Liao to second. Ector struck out swinging. With two outs, Carter singled to right center, scoring Liao and giving Gardner-Webb the walk-off victory.

The most important sequence was Carter’s two-out single in the 10th, which capped a resilient performance by the Runnin Bulldogs after they lost the lead twice.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Winthrop 5, Gardner-Webb 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Winthrop a 60.10 percent probability to win.