BUIES CREEK – Campbell scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and kept the pressure on to beat Gardner-Webb, 10-4, Friday in the opener of a key, three-game Big South series.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (22-11, 2-5 Big South) dropped their fourth league game in a row on the road.

Gardner-Webb got right back into the mix after Campbell's early surge, with Collin Thacker leading off the second inning with a single to center. After Danny Sullivan singled through the left side and Patrick Graham walked to load the bases, GWU was in business.

Jacob Walker's groundout to short plated Thacker to trim the lead to 5-1 and the 'Dogs narrowly missed a big inning when Justin Kunz line drive was caught at third for the second out of the inning. Mason Fox made the score 5-2 with an RBI infield single, but the Camels (17-15, 4-3 Big South) would get out of the jam with a comfortable lead intact.

Campbell bumped the lead to 7-2 in the fourth and Sullivan pulled Gardner-Webb within 7-3 in the top of the sixth. The junior standout legged out a triple, then scored on a wild pitch.

With Campbell holding an 8-3 lead in the top of the seventh, pinch hitter Chandler Redmond belted a solo home run to right – his second of the season – for an 8-4 score.

The Camels touched the GWU bullpen for two more runs in the bottom of the eighth for the final margin.

Campbell starter Nick Thayer (5-3) went the distance Friday, scattering seven hits and allowing four runs. He struck out six and walked two – coaxing nine ground ball outs and using only 118 pitches to finish the game.

The Camels collected 16 hits and drew nine walks in the game, with nine-hole hitter Junior Snow leading the way with a 4-for-5 effort and four RBI. Anthony Lopez went 3-for-5 at the plate as well.

Andrew Massey (3-3) was tagged with the mound loss for Gardner-Webb, allowing five runs on six hits in 1.0 inning of work. Three different relievers finished the game for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Sullivan (2-for-4, 3B, 2 runs) led the offensive effort for Gardner-Webb. Taylor Fisher (1-for-3), Redmond (1-for-1, HR, RBI), Thacker (1-for-4, run), Graham (1-for-3) and Fox (1-for-1, RBI) also had hits for the visitors.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday afternoon to continue the series. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.