FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb baseball team wrapped up its 2021 season Friday evening, falling to Presbyterian, 9-6, before dropping a 13-9 decision to Campbell to round out the evening at the 2021 Ingles Big South Conference Baseball Championship at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, N.C.
 
GWU finishes the season with a 29-23 record.
 
GAME ONE
 
Presbyterian scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 9-6 decision over Gardner-Webb in the first game of the day for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
 
Kyle Decker led off the ninth for the Blue Hose with a base hit and was able to advance to second on a miscue by GWU shortstop Ben LaSpaluto.  That set up the go-ahead RBI double by Eric Toth to put PC on top by a 7-6 score.  Two more runs scored in the frame on a base hit by Kyle Merkle.
 
GWU was unable to answer in the bottom of the ninth, with PC reliever Chris Veach retiring the side to wrap up the contest.
 
Presbyterian jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning, scoring twice on a base hit by Zacchaeus Rasberry.
 
GWU answered in the bottom half of the third, scoring once on a RBI groundout by Mitch McLendon, followed by a sacrifice fly by Eric Jones to tie the game at 2-2.
 
The 'Dogs claimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Joe Brazil connected with a base hit up the middle with two away to drive in one run, setting the score at 3-2.
 
Gardner-Webb expanded its advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Dom Peroni led off with a base hit and would later score on a sacrifice fly by Joe Brazil.  Mitch McLendon would drive in an additional run on a base hit up the middle to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 5-2 lead.
 
Presbyterian stormed back in the top of the seventh, scoring once on a base hit by Eric Toth, followed immediately by a three-run home run by Zacchaeus Rasberry to put the Blue Hose up by a 6-5 score.
 
GWU responded in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game on a RBI fielder's choice by JP McGuire.
 
Gardner-Webb totaled 10 base hits, led by a 3-for-4 effort by Ben LaSpaluto.
 
Isaac Campbell (2-5) took the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs, giving up three runs on five hits with one strikeout in two innings on the mound.  Starter Bobby Alcock lasted 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.  Kyle Skidmore recorded two outs, allowing three runs on three hits.
 
Presbyterian had 14 hits, led by a 3-for-4 afternoon with two doubles by Eric Toth.
 
Chris Veach (2-0) earned the win, allowing no runs on one hit with three strikeouts in the final three innings.  Starter Brandon Williams lasted three innings, giving up three runs on three hits while fanning four batters.
 
GAME TWO
 
Gardner-Webb scored five runs in the top of the ninth, but were unable to complete the rally, falling by a 13-9 score to top-seeded Campbell in the last game on Friday's elimination game.
 
Ben LaSpaluto led off the ninth for GWU with a base hit to left field, followed by a two-run shot to center field by Joe Brazil, his first home run of the season.
 
GWU put two more runners on with two away for Patrick Ferguson, who launched the furthest home run of the entire tournament, well past the right field wall to bring GWU within four runs.  It was the 15^th home run of the season for Ferguson.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs put one more runner on to put the potential tying run in the hole, but Campbell reliever Fred Sisco was able to record the final out on a fly ball to end the game.
 
Gardner-Webb stepped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, stringing together five hits in the top of the first with one out, highlighted by a pair of two-run home runs by Patrick Ferguson and Dom Peroni.
 
Campbell answered in the bottom of the first, scoring twice on a base hit by Collin Wolf and twice more on a double by Grant Harris to tie the game.
 
The Camels took the lead in the bottom of the second on a RBI triple by Big South Player of the Year Zach Neto and would score eight more unanswered runs until GWU scratched in the top of the ninth.
 
Gardner-Webb collected 15 base hits throughout the nightcap, again led by Ben LaSpaltuo with a 4-for-4 effort with a double and one run scored.  LaSpaluto batted .727 for the tournament, going 8-for-11 over the three games played, which leads all participants.
 
Luke Goodyear (2-1) took the loss for the 'Dogs, giving up one run on one hit while recording two outs on the evening.  Starter Casey Young recorded just two outs, giving up four runs on three hits.
 
Campbell totaled 13 hits, led by Zach Neto who was 3-for-4 with two triples, three RBI and two runs scored.
 
Aaron Rund (2-0) earned the win for the Camels, lasting 8.1 innings with seven runs allowed on 14 hits with six strikeouts in the start.