SHELBY, N.C. – Gardner-Webb surrendered seven runs in the sixth inning to go on to drop a 11-3 decision to visiting Campbell in the final game of the three-game Big South Conference series on Sunday afternoon.
 
GWU (15-13, 6-6 Big South) trailed by just one run at 4-3 as play headed to the top of the sixth, but Campbell (20-11, 10-2 Big South) seized control of the bout, loading the baes with one out, setting up a RBI walk for Koby Collins.
 
That was immediately followed by a grand slam over the right field fence by AJ Hrica to essentially put the game out of reach.
 
The Camels would score twice more in the frame on back-to-back base hits by Collin Wolf and Spencer Packard, setting the score at 11-3.
 
GWU was unable to produce any more runs over their final four at bats, as a shorthanded lineup due to various injuries produced just three base hits throughout the remainder of the game
 
Campbell scored the first runs of the afternoon in the top of the third inning.  Matthew Barefoot drove in the opening run on a groundout, later followed by a two-run triple by Wolf and a sacrifice fly by Packard, giving the Camels a 4-0 lead.
 
Gardner-Webb responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring one run as Justin Kunz belted a home run off of the scoreboard in right field.  It was his ninth home run of 2019.
 
GWU scored once again in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI single by JP McGuire, sending home Mitch McLendon who reached earlier in the inning on a walk.
 
The 'Dogs cut their deficit to one run in the fifth on a RBI groundout by Ben LaSpaluto, plating Davis Balentine who led the inning off with a double off of the right field wall.
 
Campbell had 10 base hits on the day, led by Hrica, who was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, home run, and four RBI.
 
GWU managed eight base hits, with Chris Clary leading that effort with a 2-for-3 performance with a double.  Freshman Jake Phillips saw his first action of his collegiate career in the late innings, recording his first career hit with a 1-for-2 outing.
 
Logan Heintzman (2-1) earned the win on the mound for the Camels, allowing one unearned run on three hits in 2.2 innings of work.  Starter Ryan Chasse lasted 3.1 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits. 
 
Kyle Ruehlman (3-2) took the loss for Gardner-Webb, allowing eight runs on six base hits with one strikeout in 5.1 innings.  Noah Davis tossed 1.2 innings in relief, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with one strikeout.  Langdon Wilson and Luke Williamson each hurled one scoreless inning.
 
Next up for the Runnin' Bulldogs is Western Carolina on Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.