Diamond 'Dogs Complete Friday Sweep With 6-2 Win In Nightcap
April 27, 2007 | Baseball
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - GWU made the most of its chances and used
solid defense and a good start by Ben Campbell to top the Camels,
6-2, in Friday's nightcap.
Gardner-Webb got an RBI groundout from Cooke to go up 1-0 in the
top of the first, as the big leftfielder followed a walk to Kinard
and a single up the middle by Drewery to get GWU out from early
again.
The Bulldogs manufactured a pair of runs in the top of the fourth
to go up 3-0, with one-out singles from MacDonald and Loyd getting
the rally started. Matt Rizzuto's squeeze bunt plated MacDonald
from third and Loyd scored from second on Jon Ahearn's base knock.
Ahearn swiped second with two outs, but was thrown out at the plate
following a sharp single by Shea Harris to left.
Things got shaky for GWU's Ben Campbell in the bottom of the third,
as Daniel Smith bunted to lead off the frame. Campbell then hit
Ryan Hamme with a pitch, allowed another bunt single to Brandon
Scott and walked in a run with a free pass to Brandon York.
With bases loaded and still no outs, Robb Meng cut the lead to 3-2
with an RBI fielder's choice, but Campbell rolled two more ground
balls to get out of the jam with his team still in front.
Gardner-Webb got one of those runs back in the fourth, as Cooke
raked a two-out double to the wall in left and scored on a sharp
single by Lokken to give the ‘Dogs a 4-2 cushion.
After a quiet fifth from both teams, the Camels threatened in the
bottom of the sixth. A two-out walk to York was the first mistake,
and a hard single down the line by Meng wound up putting both men
in scoring position after the throw to third was off line. Campbell
recovered to strike out Blake Lowry to end the inning still in
front, 4-2.
The Camels got two men on board to lead off the bottom of the
seventh, with consecutive singles by bottom order men Bryan
Braswell and John Watlington. Gardner-Webb erased the hits quicky,
getting a double play off the bat of Carlton Floyd and a groundout
by Smith to end the inning.
A one-out double by Scott seemed to get the hosts in business again
in the bottom of the eighth. A mental mistake by the GWU defense
allowed York to reach on a fielder's choice back to the mound
– as Ben Campbell's attempt to nail Scott getting back to
second was late, putting the tying run at first base. Matt
Tafazzoli entered from the bullpen at that point for Gardner-Webb,
and rolled a 5-to-3 double play to keep the ‘Dogs in
front.
Ahearn led off the top of the ninth with a triple to the wall in
left, and reliever Brandon Scott walked Harris on six pitches
– and Kinard delivered an RBI single through a drawn in
infield to put Gardner-Webb up 5-2. After a Drewery sacrifice put
Harris and Kinard in scoring position, Cooke drew an intentional
walk to load the bases in an attempt to roll a double play. Lokken
then struck out for the second out of the inning, but Scott walked
MacDonald on a full count to push Gardner-Webb's lead to 6-2. Chase
Bubley fanned to leave the bases loaded, but the Bulldogs headed to
the bottom of the ninth with a four-run cushion.
Tafazzoli worked the ninth to pick up his first save of the
season.
Campbell (5-4) got the win, going 7.1 innings and allowing just two
earned runs on eight hits (three strikeouts). Gardner-Webb
collected 11 hits, with Kinard (2-for-4, run, RBI, two steals),
Lokken (2-for-5, RBI) and Ahearn (2-for-4, 3B, run, RBI) leading
the way.
Lesage (1-7) went 8.0 innings and scattered 10 hits for the hosts,
while allowing five earned runs (four strikeouts). Scott, who
finished the game on the mound, went 3-for-4 at the plate for the
Camels.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Saturday at 1 pm ET.
| BOX SCORE: GWU 6, Campbell 2 |
| Updated Season Stats (PDF) |
