BUIES CREEK, N.C.- Amanda Gomes led off the second inning with a solo home-run and Rachel Cumiskey launched a three-run home bomb in the third inning to lead the Gardner-Webb softball team to a 7-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Campbell on Friday evening at Littlejohn Stadium
Katie Baker tossed a complete-game five hit shutout and struck out eight to lead the Camels to a 5-0 victory in the second game of the evening.
With the split the Runnin' Bulldogs improve to 12-28 overall and 4-15 in Big South action, while Campbell goes to 22-25 and 4-15 against conference opponents.
Game 1- Gardner-Webb 7, Campbell 3
Campbell had an opportunity to take the early lead in the bottom of the first, drawing three walks to load the bases with two outs, but Summer Darnell got Kelsey Womack to ground into a fielders choice to end the inning.
Gardner-Webb took a 1-0 lead when Gomes led off the second inning with a solo home-run, which was the fourth long ball of the season for the redshirt junior.
Kellie Beres reached first base on a bunt single to led off the third and Megan Gibbons followed, reaching first base on an error by the first baseman, as the Runnin' Bulldogs put their first two runners on base. Cumiskey watched as two straight pitches were called balls, giving her a 2-0 hitters count, and the freshman catcher launched the third pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run to give GWU a 4-0 lead.
Campbell came right back in the bottom of the second with two runs on a two-run home-run by Stephanie Jones to cut the GWU lead in half, 4-2.
Bailey Bjorson singled to lead-off the fourth, but Darnell recorded two-straight outs and it looked like the Dogs would hold the Camels scoreless in the inning, but a single by Chandler Patterson followed by an RBI knock from Ericka Nesbitt plated Campbell's third run of the evening and would head to the fifth inning trailing by just a run.
Gardner-Webb used some clutch two-out offense in the sixth to take the lead for good. Beres reached first on a fielders choice, allowing Taylar Pridgen to advance to second on the play and would later score on an RBI single by Gibbons. Beres came around to score the second run of the inning when Cumiskey reached base safely on an error by the Camels. Gardner-Webb scored a third run of the running and would take the first game of the day with a 7-3 victory.
Darnell tossed a complete game for the Dogs, allowing three runs over seven innings, and despite walking a season-high nine batters, the sophomore pitcher earned her ninth win of the season.
Game 2- Gardner-Webb 0, Campbell 5
Baker was extremely solid for the Camels in game two, limiting GWU to just five hits over seven innings to salvage the second game of the doubleheader for Campbell.
After sending the Dogs down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Baker helped out her own cause, singling home Stephanie Jones for the first run of the game for Campbell.
Gardner-Webb had one of its best scoring chances of the game as Pridgen and Beres both hit singles with two-outs, but Gibbons fouled out to the shortstop to end the threat for Campbell.
Bjorson hit a two-run home run in the fourth to give Campbell a 3-0 lead, and the Runnin' Bulldogs would put their first two runners on base to begin the fifth, but Baker recorded three-straight strikeouts to end the inning.
Lia Batchelor singled home two runs in the sixth and Campbell would take the second game of the evening 5-0.
The two teams will finish the three-game series tomorrow playing a single game that is slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
