SHELBY, N.C. (Interstat) — Tyrell Williams pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs while striking out two, and the Presbyterian offense pounded out 14 hits to defeat Gardner-Webb 11-2 in a Big South Conference game Thursday at John Henry Moss Stadium.

The Blue Hose improved to 12-41, while the Runnin Bulldogs dropped to 23-30.

Williams earned the win despite not allowing a hit, a statistical anomaly driven by baserunners who scored via walks and defensive miscues. Robbie Boykin tossed 2⅓ scoreless innings with three strikeouts, and JJ Harrell struck out four in 1⅔ hitless innings to close the game.

Presbyterian trailed 1-0 after the bottom of the first inning, when Gardner-Webb’s Merik Carter singled home Ector, who had walked and stolen second. The Blue Hose answered immediately in the top of the second, scoring four runs on just two hits, aided by a fielding error, a hit batter and a walk.

Andrew Dewberry started the rally with a ground-rule double. After a walk to Jalen Green, Carsten Mallo reached on a bunt error by the pitcher to load the bases. Bode Linker was hit by a pitch to force in Dewberry, and Holden Baker singled to shortstop to score Green. Layton Hyneman then walked to force in Mallo, and Andrew Albertus reached on a fielder’s choice to score Linker. Presbyterian led 4-1.

The Blue Hose tacked on two more in the third inning when Dewberry walked, Green singled and scored on a fielding error by the left fielder, making it 6-1.

Gardner-Webb cut the lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the third when Anthony Hausner homered to right center.

Presbyterian broke the game open in the fourth. Hyneman singled, Albertus doubled and Bo Moody singled up the middle to drive in both runners. Moody later scored on a fielder’s choice, pushing the lead to 9-2.

In the sixth, Elliot Guilford doubled and Green singled him home for a 10-2 advantage.

The Blue Hose capped the scoring in the seventh when Hyneman hit a two-run homer to left field, scoring Baker who had walked. Hyneman finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Moody went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, and Baker was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Gardner-Webb’s Jerek Hobb took the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits in four innings while striking out five. Hausner led the Runnin Bulldogs with a home run and two hits. Carter and Ector each had two hits.

The most pivotal sequence came in the top of the second inning, when the Blue Hose erased a one-run deficit and seized control with a four-run outburst that included a hit batter, a bunt error and two walks. Presbyterian never trailed after that frame.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Gardner-Webb 4, Presbyterian 1, and Interstat’s ELO system gave the Runnin Bulldogs a 62.70 percent probability to win.

The teams continue their series Friday and Saturday in Shelby.