HIGH POINT, N.C. – Gardner-Webb gave No. 1 seed Campbell all it could handle Friday morning before falling 4-3 late at the 2022 Ingles Big South Conference Baseball Championship.
Gardner-Webb (24-36) fell behind early after Jerrod Belbin hit the first pitch Campbell saw out of the park for a 1-0 lead, but the 'Dogs rallied to surge in front in the third.
Alex Ray singled with one out and moved to second when
AJ Jones struck out and reached on a wild pitch.
Alec Burns followed with a hard single to the opposite field in right to tie the game and
Curtis Robison ripped a single through the right side for a 2-1 lead.
Campbell (37-17) finally pulled even with a pair of hits in the fifth.
Gardner-Webb used some two-out magic again in the sixth to go back in front.
Curtis Robison walked, stole second and moved to third on a long fly ball to center – and gave GWU a 3-2 lead when he sprinted home on a wild pitch.
Campbell went to work quickly after the seventh inning stretch, getting a leadoff triple off the wall from Belbin and an RBI single from Big South Player of the Year Zach Neto.
The Runnin' Bulldogs had a big opportunity in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs after
Daegan Brady legged out an infield single,
Humberto Torres was walked and
Jacob Marcos was hit by a pitch. Campbell reliever Ty Cummings got a critical ground ball to keep the score tied.
Tyler Halstead poked a single into right center to lead off and Belbin followed with a double to put the game's outcome in danger for Gardner-Webb. Logan Harrill then roped the game winner into centerfield for the final score.
Kyle Skidmore (3-2) took the loss in relief, allowing two runs on four hits in 2.0 innings of work. Starter
Casey Young put in his best effort of the season in a no decision, hurling 6.0 strong innings with two runs allowed and four strikeouts. He scattered six hits and threw a season-high 99 pitches.
Gardner-Webb managed five hits, with Marcos, Burns, Robison, Brady and
Alex Ray collecting those.
Cummings (3-1) picked up the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Cade Kuehler tossed 6.0 innings in a no decision, striking out 10 and allowing three runs on three hits.
Belbin was the star, going 3-for-5 and finishing just a single shy of the cycle. Harrill and Neto each had two of the Camels' 11 hits.
Gardner-Webb's season is complete. Campbell advances to play at 7 pm Friday night in another elimination game.
