BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell scored runs in each of the first four innings to go on to hand Gardner-Webb a 6-3 loss on Friday night.
Campbell (11-11, 4-0 Big South) plated five runs in the opening four frames before adding an insurance run in the eighth, while Gardner-Webb (10-14, 1-3 Big South) did all of its damage in the second inning.
Campbell jumped out to an initial 1-0 lead in the first inning. Luis Gimenez led off the frame by drawing a four-pitch walk, and with two outs would score on a RBI single through the right side by Christian Jones.
The Diamond 'Dogs answered in the top of the second inning.
Justin Kunz led off with a base knock, and
Mason Fox reached on a walk to put two runners on base with no outs.
Corey Howard grounded out to the first baseman, but advanced both runners into scoring position for
Luke Kaesmeyer, who sent the first pitch he saw on the evening back up the middle to drive in both Kunz and Fox.
Kaesmeyer would later score on a RBI hit to right field by
Taber Mongero to give GWU a 3-1 advantage.
The Fighting Camels sliced Gardner-Webb's lead in the bottom half of the second, plating one run on a RBI sacrifice bunt by Tyler Anshaw.
Campbell reclaimed the lead in the third inning as Joe Zirolli connected with a two-run hit up the middle, putting the Camels ahead by a 4-3 score, and the team added one run the fourth on a solo home run to left field by Jones.
Gardner-Webb squandered a pair of chances to plate runs in the middle innings. With two outs in the top of the fifth,
Eric Jones and
Chandler Redmond connected with back-to-back infield singles, but Kunz struck out on three pitches to end the frame.
The 'Dogs put two runners on with two outs again in the sixth, as Kaesmeyer reached on a walk, followed by a knock back up the middle by
Chris Clary, yet Mongero grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
GWU would fail to put runners on base in the final three innings, as the Camels retired the side in each inning.
Campbell added an insurance run in the eighth on a RBI hit through the right side by Giminez.
Landon Mitchell (2-4) took the loss for Gardner-Webb, surrendering five runs, four earned, on six base hits in six innings of work. Mitchell fanned four batters while issuing three walks.
Tyler Johnson worked the final two frames, giving up one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
Wes Noble (3-2) earned the win on the mound for the Camels, allowing three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. Logan Bender tossed 2.1 perfect innings in relief, while Tyson Messer earned his fourth save of the season, working a perfect ninth with a pair of strikeouts.
Gardner-Webb had seven base hits on the evening, led by Jones (2-for-4), Kaesmeyer (1-of-2, 2 RBI), and Mongero (1-of-5, RBI).
Jones (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) paced the Campbell attack, collecting a pair of the team's seven hits.
The series resumes tomorrow afternoon, with the first pitch now slated for 1:00 pm, ahead of the original 3:00 pm start time due to potential rain in the area.
