Boiling Springs, N.C. – Andrea Lyon tossed a three-hit shutout and Weslyn Almond produced the only run of the day with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first to lift Gardner-Webb to a 1-0 victory over Furman in the finale at the Red and Black Tournament in Boiling Springs, N.C., on Sunday afternoon.
 
Lyon struck out six batters and issued four walks in a complete-game effort to improve to 7-0 in the circle as the Runnin' Bulldogs improved to 20-3. Morgan Smith (2-8), who surrendered just one run on five hits over six innings suffered the loss. She walked three batters and struck out one.
 
Furman stranded seven base runners, including four in scoring position. Mariah Bohl reached on a leadoff walk in the seventh inning and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, but Casey Bigham lined into a double play to end the game.
 
Almond went 3-for-3 to pace the Gardner-Webb offense, while Savannah Hughes registered a hit, walk and sacrifice bunt for the Paladins.
 
Furman returns to action next weekend at the UAB Tournament in Birmingham, Ala, versus Jacksonville, the host Blazers and Colgate.