BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb softball program opened conference play with a pair of losses to the Campbell Fighting Camels on Friday, 11-8 in game one, and 8-4 in game two.

Game One: Campbell 11, Gardner-Webb 8

The Fighting Camels from Buies Creek took an early 4-0 lead, with a two-run home run doing the most damage. Campbell recorded four hits and one walk in the inning to jump in front of Gardner-Webb.

CU added a fifth run in the top of the second, but the Runnin' Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the inning.

Two consecutive doubles off the bats of Jenna Wacaster and Trinity Sterrett respectively, plated a run and cut the Campbell lead to 5-1 after two complete innings.

The 'Dogs scored again in the third as Andria Booth worked her way around the bases after drawing a leadoff walk. Booth stole second and reached third on a groundout. The junior from Dacula, Georgia scored Gardner-Webb's second run of the contest on an error by the Fighting Camels' shortstop.

Campbell extended its lead to six runs, 8-2, in the top of the sixth. A solo home run made the score 6-2 in favor of the visitors, and a two RBI single with two outs allowed two additional runs to score before the Fighting Camels were retired.

The Runnin' Bulldogs began their comeback in the bottom of the fifth when Katie Prebble tied Gardner-Webb's single-season home run record with her 12^th bomb of the season. Prebble's two-run shot pulled GWU within four, 8-4.

Campbell scored three times in the sixth and seventh innings to take an 11-4 lead, but the 'Dogs refused to go down without a fight.

Weslyn Almond doubled and scored when Prebble recorded a base knock. A walk and hit batter loaded the bases for Lauren Huffman, who recorded an RBI single and made the score 11-6. J. Wacaster's sacrifice fly gave Gardner-Webb its third run of the frame, and Sterrett's RBI single pulled the 'Dogs within three, 11-8.

The 'Dogs were unable to score any additional runs, and a flyout ended the game as the Fighting Camels walked away with the victory.

Ashley Wark (9-6) took the loss. Wark spent 4.2 innings in the circle and surrendered eight earned runs. Campbell's Megan Richards (8-5) earned the victory by throwing 4.1 innings, while Lexy Head recorded her second save of the year.

Prebble (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Sterrett (2-4, 2 RBIs) led Gardner-Webb at the plate.

Game Two: Campbell 8, Gardner-Webb 4

A big third inning saw the Runnin' Bulldogs take a 4-2 lead over Campbell, but the 'Dogs could not sustain the momentum as Campbell scored six unanswered runs for the victory.

Trailing 2-1, Prebble started the third inning with a single to left field, and Kaylee Wacaster followed that with a double, moving Prebble to third. With two on and nobody out, Rachel Cumiskey crushed a ball over the left field fence for three RBIs. Cumiskey's homer gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a 4-2 lead after three innings.

Gardner-Webb managed only a single off the bat of Booth in the fourth, and in the top of the fifth, Campbell tied the ball game via a pair of hits and walks.

The 'Dogs were unable to take the lead in the fifth, as they were retired in order.

The Fighting Camels took the lead in the top of the sixth when an error allowed a runner to score from first, putting CU in front, 6-5.

Gardner-Webb threatened in the bottom of the sixth but came up empty. J. Wacaster drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second when Booth reached on a throwing error by the Campbell defense.

With two outs, Prebble walked, loading the bases, but a groundout stranded three runners and kept the Fighting Camels' clinging to a narrow 5-4 lead.

A three-run top of the seventh gave Campbell some margin for error.

Gardner-Webb's Maddi Johnson and J. Wacaster drew walks in the seventh, but Richards retired the final batter for the Fighting Camels. In the end, Gardner-Webb fell, 8-4.

Wark (9-7) took the loss after pitching three innings of relief. She gave up five runs (four earned). Richards (9-5) won her second game of the day for Campbell, throwing three scoreless innings in relief of Head.  

Booth and K. Wacaster (2-for-4) both had multi-hit games.

The losses drop Gardner-Webb to 14-12 overall and 0-2 after its first day of Big South Conference action. Campbell improves to 12-12 and 2-0 in the BSC. The two squads will play the third and final game of the series, tomorrow, Saturday, March 10, at 12 noon.