BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Gardner-Webb battled back to take game one of Saturday's doubleheader against Campbell, 10-8, before falling in the nightcap by a 10-1 score.
With the split, Gardner-Webb sits at 14-16 overall and 13-8 in Big South Conference play, while Campbell is now 18-11 overall and 13-7 in league games.
GAME ONE
Gardner-Webb bounced back from an early 6-0 deficit to take an 10-8 victory in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.
Campbell wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Zach Neto hit a two-run home run in the top of the first to give the Camels a quick 2-0 lead.
The Camels expanded their lead in the top of the third with Collin Wolf hitting a grand slam to set the score to 6-0.
The Runnin' Bulldogs scratched in the bottom of the third inning on a RBI single to center field by
Joe Simone.
Neither team scored again until the bottom of the fifth inning, which saw the GWU offense come alive.
Mitch McLendon drove in the first run of the frame on a RBI knock up the middle, and later
Cam Pearcey plated one on a sacrifice fly, followed by a RBI single by
Eric Jones.
Patrick Ferguson then tied the game at 6-6 on a base knock to the right field gap.
Gardner-Webb claimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs,
Dom Peroni and McLendon reached on back-to-back base hits, setting up a base-clearing triple to the left field gap by Simone, giving the 'Dogs an 8-6 advantage.
Campbell responded in the top of the seventh, squaring the game at 8-8 on back-to-back RBI ground-rule doubles by Neto and Spencer Packard.
GWU took the lead back for good in the bottom of the seventh inning, on RBI base hits by
Bo Rusher and Peroni, setting the score at 10-8.
The Runnin' Bulldogs collected 13 base hits throughout the game, paced by Rusher (3-for-4, RBI).
Campbell had nine hits, led by Neto (3-for-3, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI).
Kyle Skidmore (2-1) earned the win on the mound for Gardner-Webb, tossing the final three frames from the bullpen, allowing two runs on three base hits with three strikeouts. Starter
Bobby Alcock lasted six innings, allowing six runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
Ty Cummings (0-2) took the loss for the Camels, giving up four runs on five hits with one strikeout with 2.1 innings in relief. Starter Ryan Chasse lasted 4.2 innings, giving up six runs on seven base hits while fanning six batters.
GAME TWO
Campbell used two big innings late in Saturday's nightcap to hand Gardner-Webb a 10-1 loss.
Gardner-Webb took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning as
Patrick Ferguson led off the frame with a solo home run to right field, his third home run of the season.
Both teams were held off the scoreboard until the top of the sixth inning with Campbell tying the game on a sacrifice fly by Lawson Harrill.
The Camels seized control of the bout in the top of the seventh inning, scoring five runs on three base hits and added to their lead in the eighth inning, scoring four runs on three base hits to take a 10-1 lead.
GWU had five base hits in the nightcap, led by
Mitch McLendon (2-for-4).
Campbell totaled 11 hits, paced by Matthew Christian (3-for-4, 2B, RBI).
Isaac Campbell (1-4) took the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs, giving up three runs on one hit with one strikeout in 0.2 innings from the bullpen. Starter
Kyle Ruehlman lasted 5.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts. GWU used a total of six arms from the bullpen.
Zach Neto (4-0) earned the win for the Camels, giving up no runs on one hit with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief work. Starter Cade Kuehler tossed 4.1 innings, giving up one run on four base hits while fanning seven batters.
Gardner-Webb remains at home for its next contest, hosting UNC Asheville in midweek league play on Tuesday evening at 5:00 pm. Live coverage from Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium can be found on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com / ESPN App).
