BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and held on to beat No. 13 Campbell, 4-2, Sunday in Big South Conference baseball action.
It was the first win over a nationally-ranked team for Gardner-Webb (28-22, 13-11 Big South) since a 10-2 win over No. 24 South Carolina on March 6, 2019.
Curtis Robison put together a gritty all-around performance - at the plate and in the field - and got Gardner-Webb started in the first inning. He singled with one out and scored on
Nate Anderson's sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.
Peter Capobianco led off the second inning and was hit by the second pitch of his at bat, then stole second and moved all to way to third on an error by the Campbell backstop.
An RBI single by freshman
Ryan Kennell plated Capobianco and, after a
Jacob Marcos' sacrifice bunt, Kennell scored on
Mark Black's single into right for a 3-0 lead.
Capobianco delivered a big blow with two outs in the third, belting his second home run of the weekend to left field to put the 'Dogs up 4-0.
Campbell scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning, and scored a run on three singles in the fourth, but Gardner-Webb held them off from there.
The Runnin' Bulldogs turned key double plays in the fifth and sixth innings – the second a 4-6-3 gem that erased a leadoff single.
Lenny Washington then struck out a batter to end the inning with the two-run lead intact.
The bullpen was strong late, with
Jacob McCaskey rolling through the seventh inning unscathed and
Michael Portela doing the same in the eighth.
Phil Fox came on for the save opportunity and delivered, pitching around a single in the ninth to close the door.
Joe Miceli was solid in his second start of the week, working 4.0 innings and allowing just two runs on seven hits. He struck out three batters and walked just one.
Washington (1-0) picked up the win in relief, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Gardner-Webb had five men collect hits on the day, with Capobianco (1-for-3, HR, RBI) scoring a pair of runs. Robison (1-for-3), Black (1-for-3),
Nick Capozzi (1-for-4) and Kennell (1-for-4, RBI) also had base knocks for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Campbell's Cameron O'Brien (3-2) took the mound loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in just 1.1 innings pitched. The Camels had 10 hits in the game.
Gardner-Webb will be back in action on the road Tuesday, traveling to face No. 10 Duke at 1:00 pm in Durham.
