BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Gardner-Webb baseball dropped the back end of Saturday's doubleheader at Campbell by a 14-6 score at Jim Perry Stadium.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-7, 1-2 Big South) jumped out to an immediate lead over Campbell (6-4, 2-1 Big South) in the top of the first inning, loading the bases to set up an RBI groundout for Patrick Ferguson.
 
The Camels once again wasted no time to take the lead away from GWU, loading the bases to set up a grand slam for Matthew Christian in the bottom of the first, his second grand slam in the first inning in as many games.
 
Campbell pushed its lead to 7-1 in the second inning, as Connor Denning hit a solo home run, followed by a double by Collin Wolf that set up an RBI double by Spencer Packard and a RBI knock by Christian.
 
Gardner-Webb began to battle back in the top of the fourth.  With runners on second and third, Dom Peroni drove in one run on a deep sacrifice fly to right field, followed immediately by a two-run blast over the left field fence by Ben LaSpaluto.  It was LaSpaluto's second home run of 2021.
 
GWU scored again in the top of the fifth inning.  With two outs, Eric Jones drew a four-pitch walk to set up an RBI triple off the bat of Keiji Parkhurst, trimming Campbell's lead to 7-5.
 
Campbell seized control of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating three runs.  The Camels also added two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs scored once more in the eighth, with Mitch McLendon driving a run in on a RBI fielder's choice.
 
Gardner-Webb managed five hits on the evening, with extra base hits by LaSpaluto (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Parkhurst (1-for-3, 3B, RBI).
 
The Camels totaled 12 hits on the night, paced by Denning, who was a single shy of hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, home run, and three RBI.
 
Bobby Alcock (0-1) took the loss on the mound for the 'Dogs, allowing four runs on one hit with three strikeouts in one inning of work in the start.  GWU used a total of of six arms from the bullpen, with Casey Young doing the majority of relief work, hurling three scoreless frames, allowing just one base hit with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Cade Kuehler (2-0) earned the win for Campbell, allowing just one run on two base hits with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work from the bullpen.  Starter Jonathan Beymer lasted four innings, giving up four runs on one hit with three strikeouts.
 
Gardner-Webb remains on the road for its next Big South series, beginning Friday, March 12 at Winthrop.  First pitch is set for 5:00 pm in Rock Hill, S.C.