BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – After splitting a twinbill with the Campbell Fighting Camels on Tuesday, the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs dropped Wednesday's rubber match, 12-1.
Brooke Perry pitched around a leadoff double for a scoreless first inning, but surrendered a triple to begin the second frame. A wild pitch eventually allowed Campbell's Abby Perryman to score, giving the Fighting Camels the early lead.
Campbell (18-20, 9-6 Big South) scored its second run in the top of the following inning when Cassie Wancheck singled up the middle, batting in Perryman.
With her team trailing, 2-0, Kaylee Wacaster recorded a leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth and advanced to second on the throw, but was left stranded after CU's Haley Hutchins retired the next three batters.
Gardner-Webb (22-15, 3-6 Big South) cut into Campbell's lead with one run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jenna Wacaster and Meredith Ferguson both drew walks, while Callie Thornton hit an infield single. Weslyn Almond was hit by a pitch with the bases full, but one run was all the Runnin' Buldlogs got.
The Fighting Camels scored four runs in the top of the sixth and sixth more in the seventh to take a 12-1 lead. Following a walk and single in the seventh, Campbell hit back-to-back home runs to center field. A solo by Cassie Wancheck was visitors third homer of the inning and gave them an 12-run lead over the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Perry (14-8) started the game and spent 4.1 innings in the circle. Perry allowed just three hits and two earned runs but walked nine. Three pitchers – Laken Myers, Reah Barger and Madi Lewis –saw action over the final 2.1 innings. Myers and Lewis each threw 0.2 innings, while Barger contributed 1.1 innings of work in the circle.
Hutchins (7-10) threw a complete game for the Fighting Camels and allowed one run on five hits. She surrendered just one earned run while striking out three and walking two.
At the plate, five Runnin' Bulldogs recorded hits – Lauren Huffman, Lily Pressley, Perry, Thornton and Wacaster. Almond was credited with Gardner-Webb's lone RBI.
Campbell's Kynadi Tipler (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Bri Bryant (2-for-3) each had multi-hit game. Kayla Fredendall led the Fighting Camels with 4 RBI.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will play a non-conference doubleheader against North Carolina A&T tomorrow at 2 p.m. before hosting the Longwood Lancers in Big South action beginning on Saturday. The series with Longwood will feature a doubleheader on Saturday (1 and 3 p.m.) and a single game at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
