BOX SCORE (PDF)
BUIES CREEK -Gardner-Webb used an electric ninth-inning rally for the second Friday night in a row, scoring six runs in the ninth to take a 6-5 win over Campbell at Jim Perry Stadium.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (20-23, 10-11 Big South) trailed 5-0 after the eighth inning, but sent 10 men to the plate in the top of the ninth to rally. Just seven days earlier, GWU scored five runs in the ninth to take a 7-6 win over South Division leader Coastal Carolina.
This week's rally was broadcast live nationally on ESPNU as the Big South's Game of the Week.
"One of the most satisfying wins of my career," said Gardner-Webb head coach Rusty Stroupe. "The guys never quit and I couldn't' be prouder of them, especially since it was on national television."
JJ Nazzaro started the charge with a sharp single to right to lead off the ninth, and hustled into second when the ball was bobbled in the outfield. Tyler Best walked, chasing Campbell starter Heath Bowers from the game.
Scott Coleman greeted All-America closer Ryan Thompson with an RBI double down the line to trim the lead to 5-1, and Gardner-Webb went to a lefthanded pinch hitter to face the sidearm throwing Thompson with one out.
The strategy paid off, as Will Canady bounced a two-run single up the middle - scoring Best and Coleman to tighten things up and make the score 5-3. Hunter Smith stayed hot with a single to right field, moving pinch runner Evan Hyett into scoring position.
Ryan Hodge was plunked on a 1-1 breaking pitch to load the bases, and an error at shortstop on a ball hit up the middle by Henry Rundio allowed Hyett and pinch runner Taylor Fisher to score and tie the game.
Head coach Rusty Stroupe reached into his bag of tricks to plate the go-ahead run, as Alex Newman caught the Camels off guard with a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to drive in Hodge for a 6-5 lead. The throw home went awry, allowing Rundio and Newman to move into scoring position.
Thompson was able to work out of the inning without further damage, however, picking off Rundio at third and getting a nice play at third on a Nazzaro ground ball to keep his team down just one run.
Campbell's John Reilly led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to left, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt - and stood just 90 feet away from tying the game after a wild pitch with one out.
A safety squeeze bunt by the Camels was handled nicely by closer Brad Haymes, and his flip home cut down Reilly at the plate - and dampened momentum quickly at Perry Stadium. Haymes then got a looping fly ball to Hodge at shortstop to end the game.
Campbell (29-15, 12-7 Big South) lost for the first time in 27 games when leading after the eighth inning Friday night
The Camels were in control after scoring four runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, extending a 1-0 lead to five runs. Prior to that rally, Campbell has been able to scratch only an unearned run against Gardner-Webb starter Matt Fraudin - with that run coming in the fourth.
Fraudin and Bowers engaged in a serious pitchers' duel until the eighth, with Bowers facing the minimum from the third through the eighth and Fraudin allowing just five hits until Campbell's eighth-inning burst.
Fraudin (3-5) picked up his third win of the season, working 8.0 innings, scattering nine hits and striking out three (four earned runs allowed). Haymes worked a scoreless ninth for his third save of the season.
Gardner-Webb managed 10 hits in the game, with Smith (2-for-3, run) and Newman (2-for-4, RBI) leading the way. Nazzaro (1-for-5, run), Best (1-for-3, run), Coleman (1-for-4, 2B, run, RBI) and Canady (1-for-1, 2 RBI) had the rest of those hits.
Thompson (4-2) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on four hits in the ninth. Bowers took a no decision after allowing just two runs on six hits in 8.0 innings of work (seven strikeouts). The Camels' ace left with a 5-0 lead and two men on base.
Campbell also had 10 hits, with nine different men collecting one each and Reilly going 2-for-4).
Only two of the teams' combined 20 hits went for extra bases (one double each team), and half of those 20 knocks came in the final two innings.
Gardner-Webb and Campbell will play again on Saturday night at 6:00 in Jim Perry Stadium. The game will air live on The Big South Network.
