BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Gardner-Webb came alive for a 16-9 win in Friday's nightcap, earning a split at Campbell in a key Big South Conference doubleheader.
GAME ONE – Campbell 7, Gardner-Webb 3
Megan Mozingo's grand slam in the bottom of the eighth delivered Campbell a walk-off, 7-3 win in the opener of Friday's twinbill.
Gardner-Webb 12-29, 5-11 Big South) seized a 3-0 lead with a burst in the top of the fifth, getting a three-run home run from sophomore Kaylee Wacaster to account for that damage. Wacaster drove in Maddi Johnson and Allie Barrick after Johnson reached on a two-out single and Madi Lewis followed with a base on balls. Barrick then ran for Lewis.
Wacaster's long ball caromed off the left field foul pole.
The Camels (27-21, 12-4 Big South) rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Melissa Tular cut the lead to 3-2 with a two-run single, then Taesha DuBoise rapped out an RBI single of her own to knot the score.
After a scoreless seventh, Campbell rallied to win in the bottom of the eighth.
A pair of singles, a sacrifice bunt and a walk set the stage for Mozingo, who belted her slam to right field for the victory.
Mackenzie Thompson (3-13) took the loss in relief for the 'Dogs, working 2.0 innings and allowing four runs on four hits. Katie Baker (14-7) picked up the win, going the full 8.0 innings and allowing three runs on six hits.
Gardner-Webb was led by Wacaster offensively, as she finished the game by going 2-for-3 with her home run and three RBI. Alia Booth (1-for-3), Megan Champion (1-for-4), Callie Thornton (1-for-3) and Johnson (1-for-3) added hits for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Campbell had nine hits in the game, with Amber Schisler (2-for-4), Tullar (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Mozingo (2-for-3, HR, 4 RBI) leading the charge.
GAME TWO – Gardner-Webb 16, Campbell 9
An eight-run explosion in the top of the fifth erased a deficit quickly, and Gardner-Webb added five more runs in the sixth en route to a 16-9 win over Campbell in Friday's nightcap.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (13-29, 6-11 Big South) used eight hits and took full advantage of five Campbell errors in the win.
Trailing 6-3 after four innings, Gardner-Webb put together a rally to remember in the fifth.
Kaylee Wacaster led off the frame with a walk, then Megan Gibbons reached with one out when she was hit by a pitch. Alia Booth followed with another base on balls – and Megan Champion cut the lead to 6-4 with an RBI single.
Callie Thornton tied the score, slicing a two-run single up the middle – and both Champion and Thornton were in scoring position on batter later on a wild pitch that left them at second and third base, respectively.
After a strikeout slowed the rally, an error allowed Champion to trot home for a 7-6 Gardner-Webb lead. Another error allowed Maddi Johnson to reach, and Thornton crossed the plate on the same play for an 8-6 advantage.
Wacaster, who had a three-run bomb in the opener Friday, came through with a decisive blow after a walk to Madi Lewis – hammering another three-run shot over the fence in left center for an 11-6 advantage.
Campbell (27-22, 12-5 Big South) scored twice in the bottom half of the fifth to trim the lead back to three runs, 11-8, but Gardner-Webb had more in the tank.
The 'Dogs used a pair of errors on the same play to get a rally started in the sixth, as Booth and Gibbons scored on the play for a 13-8 lead. Another error one batter later allowed Champion to cross and Wacaster again made the Fighting Camels pay with a two-run single up the middle – and a16-8 lead.
Amber Schisler homered in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 16-9, which surprisingly ended the scoring for both teams.
Wacaster was the star again for the Runnin' Bulldogs, going 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBI. She also reached on a walk. Thornton went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI and Rachel Cumiskey (1-for-4, RBI), Booth (1-for-4) and Champion (1-for-3, RBI) also had hits in the rout.
Summer Darnell hurled 5.0 innings in a no decision start, allowing two earned runs on four hits. Ashley Wark came out of the bullpen to work 1.1 innings for the win, her seventh of the season.
Campbell's Holly Brooks (3-7) took the loss, allowing seven runs (three earned) on just two hits in 0.2 innings pitched. She walked three in the relief appearance.
The Fighting Camels did manage 10 hits in the loss, with four different batters collecting two each. Schisler homered and drove in a team-high three runs in the game.
The two teams will play the rubber match on Saturday at 1:00 pm in Buies Creek (Littlejohn Stadium).
