BOILING SPRINGS – Campbell rallied for two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth and held off Gardner-Webb for a 5-3 win in the series rubber match Sunday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb (20-28, 6-15 Big South) had a big rally of its own in the sixth to take the lead – pushing across three runs to erase a 2-0 deficit.
Ryan Hodge and Sam Fulginiti collected back-to-back singles with one out in the sixth and Collin Thacker legged out an infield hit to load the bases. Matt Simmons then came through with a double into right to drive in both Hodge and Fulginiti, working through a seven-pitch at bat to tie the game.
Will Canady drove home Thacker with a deep sacrifice fly to right for a 3-2 lead before the Fighting Camels (27-19, 10-11 Big South) wrapped up the inning.
The visitors wasted little time rallying back in front, getting a leadoff double from Matt Parrish in the seventh and a walk to Aaron Beard to bring the go ahead run to the plate with nobody out. A sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position, and pinch hitter Danny Pardo slapped an opposite field double over an drawn in outfield in left to give Campbell a 4-3 lead.
Bradley Hallman came on to halt the rally, but Gardner-Webb would not be able to mount a serious threat the rest of the way. Tyler Best reached on a two-out error in the seventh, but Bobby Thorson got a strikeout to end the inning.
The Camels got another leadoff double in the eighth, with Cedric Mullins collecting his third hit of the day. Mullins moved to third on a ground ball, then scored on Cole Hallum's RBI single through the right side for a 5-3 lead.
A leadoff single by Fulginiti in the eighth was erased by a double play and Hallum came on for his second save attempt of the weekend in the ninth.
After issuing a leadoff walk to Canady, Hallum survived a hard line drive to center by J.D. Huggins – which was hit right at Mullins for the first out. The Campbell closer then rolled a 3-6 double play to end the game.
Mitch Warner (2-6) pitched well again in a starting role, but was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in 6.0 solid innings.
Gardner-Webb had 10 hits, with Fulginiti (3-for-4, run) and Thacker (3-for-4, run) leading the way.
Thorson (4-2) picked up the relief win, working 2.2 innings and allowing just one hit. Hallum picked up his ninth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
The Fighting Camels had nine hits in the game, with Mullins (3-for-4, 2 2B, run) hitting a double from each side of the plate to lead the way.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will break for exams before returning to the diamond on Friday to host Longwood in another key Big South Conference series. First pitch for Friday night is set for 6:00 pm (Big South Network).
