Box Score BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Redshirt senior Nick Capozzi tripled with the bases loaded in the top of the 11th inning, providing the biggest hit of the night during Gardner-Webb's (16-22) wild 11-9 win over Campbell (15-21) on Tuesday evening at Jim Perry Stadium.
In game of momentum swings, the Runnin' Bulldogs watched a 5-run lead evaporate in the final two innings of regulation before scoring three times in the 11th for the non-conference road win.
The Fighting Camels came out of the gate strong, picking up a pair of runs in the bottom of the third following a two-RBI single down the left field line by Andrew Schuldt.
That lead disappeared in the visitor's half of the fifth as Gardner-Webb plated two runs of its own after Ethan Liao singled up the middle with one out, scoring Merik Carter and Lawson Knight.
After a scoreless sixth, Campbell raced back ahead with a single run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Runnin' Bulldogs woke the bats up in their at-bat of the eighth, scoring six times on five hits.
Garrett Macias started the rally with a base hit before pinch runner Carson Willoughby advanced to third following a groundout and error by the Campbell pitching staff. Bacl-to-back walks loaded the bases followed by a two-RBI single to right off the bat of Tanner Thomas.
Gavin Johnson then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that brought home a run before Carter drove in a pair with a single back through the box. Carter would eventually score on a passed ball, capping the offensive outburst while giving GWU an 8-3 lead.
The Camels did not go quietly as they put together a 4-run frame in the bottom half of the eighth, picking up two-RBI singles from Dalen Thompson and Schuldt. Campbell tied the game in the bottom of the ninth after scoring a single run, but Jerek Hobb stranded the bases loaded with a key strikeout.
Both teams went scoreless in the 10th, but the bats were alive once again for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the 11th as GWU plated three runs. Bennett Shealor kickstarted the frame with a leadoff double before consecutive hit-by-pitches put a Runnin' Bulldog at every base.
That set the stage for Capozzi who lined a triple into the right center gap, clearing the bases while giving Gardner-Webb an 11-8 advantage.
Campbell scratched one run across in the bottom of the inning, but left the tying run on base as a harmless fly out ended the game with GWU taking the high-scoring affair.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to conference play on Friday evening, opening a three-game set at Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C. Game one is set for a 6 p.m. start.
