Diamond 'Dogs Drop 7-2 Decision At Campbell Saturday Night
May 03, 2014 | Baseball
BUIES CREEK - Campbell scored five runs in the sixth inning to pull away, and topped Gardner-Webb 7-2 Saturday night at Jim Perry Stadium.
Gardner-Webb (20-25, 10-12 Big South) jumped on top in the first inning, getting a leadoff single from JJ Nazzaro and an RBI knock from Scott Coleman for a 1-0 advantage. Tyler Best moved Nazzaro into scoring position, and Coleman's single to left drove him in.
Campbell (30-15, 13-7 Big South) took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the second inning.
The Camels' Kyle Leady walked with one out in the second, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored to tie the game on an RBI double from Elijah Trail. Will Albertson plated Trail with a single to put Campbell up 2-1.
The score would remain the same until Steven Leonard led off the decisive sixth inning with a walk. Matt Nadolski reached on an error and Leady made the score 3-1 with a one-out, RBI single. Trail followed with a single, and Nadolski scored on a fielding error in left field for a 4-1 Campbell edge.
Albertson drove in another run with a double to chase Gardner-Webb starter Andrew Barnett from the game - and Campbell added two more runs before reliever Mitch Warner could shut down the rally.
The Runnin' Bulldogs got one run back in the eighth, when Henry Rundio led off with a double and scored on Nazzaro's fielder's choice later in the frame.
Campbell starter Hector Cedeno (6-0) remained perfect on the mound, going the distance Saturday and allowing just two runs on four hits (five strikeouts).
The Camels had eight hits, with Albertson (3-for-4, 2 RBI) coming alive to lead that offensive effort. Trail also had a pair of hits (2-for-4, 2B, 2 runs) and Campbell finished the game with six hits in 10 chances with runners in scoring position.
Barnett (4-3) was tagged with his second loss in as many weeks, but pitched at a high level until Campbell surged in the sixth. The High Point, N.C., senior lasted 5.1 innings and allowed five earned runs on five hits.
Warner (1.2 innings) and Andrew Massey (1.0 innings) closed out the game for Gardner-Webb.
Nazzaro (1-for-4, RBI, SB), Coleman (1-for-3, RBI), Rundio (1-for-3, 2B, run) and Alex Newman (1-for-2) had Gardner-Webb's four hits Saturday.
The two teams will play the rubber match at 2:00 pm Sunday, with the game set to air live on The Big South Network.
| BOX SCORE (PDF) |
