BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Johan Fors clinched the match for Gardner-Webb with a win at No. 5 singles and Breno Plentz followed with a win at No. 3 as the Runnin' Bulldogs defeated the Campbell Fighting Camels, 5-2, to open Big South Conference play.

Gardner-Webb won its fourth straight match of the season and now stands at 4-5 overall and 1-0 in conference action. Campbell falls to 7-4 and 1-1 in the Big South.

The Runnin' Bulldogs began the match by clinching a difficult doubles point. 68^th-ranked Maximilian Scholl and Millen Hurrion cruised to a 6-2 win in the No. 1 flight, but the Fighting Camels were victorious at No. 2.

The doubles point came down to the No. 3 position where Jacob Wall and Bonventura Durall defeated Gerard Sola and Louis Monterosso, 6-2, to win the point.

No. 3 doubles gave us a huge lift," stated head coach Mike Griffith. "I am so proud of our entire team. Last year, Campbell beat us in the first conference match of the season, and our season did not turn out the way we wanted. This is great for our momentum, but it is only one win. We will enjoy it tonight and continue to work. We appreciate Campbell and Coach Johnson's efforts to get this match played despite the crazy weather patterns today.

In singles play, #80 Hurrion cruised, 6-3, 6-2, to extend Gardner-Webb's cushion to two matches, but Campbell's Fernando Clemente got a two-set win in the No. 6 flight, making it a 2-1 score in favor of Gardner-Webb.

The teams traded matches with Scholl winning in the No. 1 position and Campbell's Sola earning the victory at No. 4.

Sola's win was Campbell's last of the match as Fors clinched for Gardner-Webb, winning in three sets, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. Just seconds after Fors clinched the match, Plentz was victorious in the No. 3 fight, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 as GWU won its Big South opener, 5-2.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will take a break from Big South Conference play and battle the Kennesaw State Owls of the Atlantic Sun Conference on Sunday, March 17. First serve is set for 12:30 p.m. from Boiling Springs.