SHELBY, N.C. (Interstat) — Kelvin Agosto hit a three-run home run in the first inning and Gardner-Webb erased an early deficit with a five-run seventh and eighth innings to beat Presbyterian 11-6 on Friday night at John Henry Moss Stadium.

The Runnin Bulldogs fell behind 5-3 after the Blue Hose scored three unearned runs in the top of the sixth, but Gardner-Webb responded with a decisive two-run seventh and a four-run eighth to secure the Big South victory.

Agosto’s homer, his only hit of the night, came with two runners on and gave the Runnin Bulldogs a 3-0 lead. He also walked twice and stole two bases. Matt Ilgenfritz went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a double, while Merik Carter added three hits and two RBIs. Ryan Kennell had two hits and two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the seventh.

Gardner-Webb starter Reid Bertram allowed six hits and three earned runs over 5 2/3 innings, striking out three. Colby Putnam earned the win, tossing 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing two hits and one earned run with three strikeouts.

Presbyterian starter Christian Charalambous pitched 4 2/3 innings without allowing a hit but surrendered five runs – all earned – on four walks and six strikeouts. Mikey Marroquin and Eli Bowery combined for 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Blue Hose took a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning when Brody Linker hit a two-run homer and Chris Mallo added an RBI single. Two more unearned runs in the sixth made it 5-5, but Gardner-Webb took control from there.

In the bottom of the seventh, Gardner-Webb loaded the bases with walks and a single before Kennell’s two-run single put the Runnin Bulldogs ahead 7-5. An inning later, Merik Carter’s two-run single, a run-scoring single by Alex Hausner and an RBI double by Ilgenfritz broke the game open.

Presbyterian (12-42, 6-21 Big South) managed eight hits. Linker finished 1 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs. Mallo drove in two runs and scored twice.

Gardner-Webb (24-30, 9-11) collected 14 hits. Agosto’s homer was his second in as many games against the Blue Hose after he went 1 for 3 in a 11-2 loss Thursday. He is batting .333 in his last five games.

The turning point came in the bottom of the seventh with the score tied 5-5. After a pair of walks, Agosto stole third and Hausner stole second. Ilgenfritz grounded into a fielder’s choice that cut down Agosto at the plate. But Kennell followed with a two-run single to right-center, giving the Runnin Bulldogs the lead for good.

Gardner-Webb added four more runs in the eighth, sending 10 batters to the plate. The inning featured a two-run single by Carter, an RBI single by Hausner and an RBI double by Ilgenfritz.

Presbyterian scored one run in the ninth on an RBI single by Logan Hyneman, but the rally ended when Andrew Albertus grounded into a double play.

The Blue Hose have lost six of their last seven games, while Gardner-Webb snapped a three-game skid.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Gardner-Webb 4, Presbyterian 1, and its ELO system gave the Runnin Bulldogs a 61.00 percent probability to win. The two teams conclude the series Saturday at John Henry Moss Stadium.