BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Christian Jones hit a bases-loaded RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning as Campbell handed Gardner-Webb a 4-3 loss in Big South Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
 
Gardner-Webb (13-12, 1-4 Big South) dropped its third straight decision, while Campbell (12-11, 5-0 Big South) secured the series win.
 
Trailing by a 3-2 score as play headed to the top of the eighth, Gardner-Webb rallied to tie the game.  With a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs, Eric Jones sent a base knock back up the middle to score Taber Mongero.
 
The Diamond 'Dogs loaded the bases with two outs, but were unable to produce the go-ahead run as Mason Fox grounded into a fielder's choice to end the threat.
 
Wil Sellers came in to toss the bottom of the eighth in relief for starter Bradley Hallman, and retired the side on just six pitches to give GWU a chance to reclaim the lead in the ninth.
 
Chris Clary looked to produce the go-ahead run, connecting with a triple to the left field gap with one away.
 
Mongero stepped up an grounded the ball over to the Campbell second baseman Jones, who quickly made the throw back to the plate to the catcher Zach Minnick, who applied the tag on Clary to record the second out of the frame.
 
Mongero stole second base and advanced to third base on a base hit by Mickey Dugan, but Jones struck out on three straight pitches to send play to the bottom half of the ninth with the score still squared at 3-3.
 
Bryce Myers led off the bottom of the ninth with a double down the left field line, which was followed by an intentional walk of Luis Giminez. 
 
Tyler Anshaw reached on a fielder's choice to record the first out of the inning, but a pitch to load the bases then hit Matthew Barefoot, bringing Jones to the plate to send home the game-winning run.
 
Gardner-Webb wasted no time getting on the scoreboard at the start of the bout, plating two runs in the top of the first inning.  With one out, Jones and Corey Howard connected with consecutive base hits to put runners on the corners.
 
Jones scored the opening run of the day on a passed ball by Campbell pitcher Michael Horrell, and Howard later crossed the plate safely on a RBI groundout by Chandler Redmond.
 
The Camels were held off of the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Minnick belted a two-run double into the left field gap, backed up by a RBI knock by Jeff Hahs up the middle to give Campbell a 3-2 lead.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs had seven base hits on the day, led by Howard (2-for-3, run) and Jones (2-for-4, RBI).
 
Minnick (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and Hahs (2-for-3, RBI) paced the Campbell offense, which raped out nine base knocks.
 
Sellers (2-1) took the loss for Gardner-Webb, surrendering one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of work.  Hallman had his fourth quality start of the season, allowing three runs on seven hits in seven innings with three strikeouts.  Jarrett Thompson came in with one out in the ninth, allowing the game-winning base hit.
 
Wyatt Tyson (1-1) earned the win for the Camels, working the ninth, allowing no runs to score on a pair of hits with one strikeout.  Horrell lasted four innings in the start, allowing two runs on three hits, while fanning a pair of batters.  Campbell used a total of six pitchers on the day, with Barefoot (2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H), Harry Thomas (1.0 IP, 1 ER, 0 H, 1 K), Jack Yusko (0.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H), and Tyson Messer (0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 K, 2 BB) each seeing time on the mound.
 
Both teams will wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm.