BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- After Campbell jumped out to a 7-1 lead,
Gardner-Webb used a seven run fourth and a four run sixth to top
the visiting Camels 13-8 in A-Sun baseball action, Friday afternoon
at Varsity Field. The
Bulldogs improve to 14-1 in games where they score ten or more
runs.
Campbell (15-24, 8-14 A-Sun) matched a season high in hits (14),
including multi-hit performances by five different players headed
by Mike Causey and John Watlington. Causey went 2-for-2 with three runs
scored, two RBI and a stolen base. Watlington, a junior from Yanceyville,
N.C., also knocked in a pair of runs and scored another.
Gardner-Webb (19-18, 10-12 A-Sun) continued its offensively potent
ways as each of its first five batters in the order had multi-hit
games. Matt Rizzuto and
Justin Loyd each collected three hits, while Loyd knocked in three
runs as well. Bubbie Spake
and Ty Boyles both hit homers in the contest.
Reliever Ryan Maxa (3-2) picked up his third win of the season for
the Bulldogs after allowing two runs in six complete innings. The left handed transfer from
Limestone College struck out four batters and only walked two.
Hunter Ford (1-3) was one of six different pitchers for Campbell
and was strapped with the loss, giving up four runs in 1/3 innings
of relief work. Campbell
starter Trevor Smith allowed just one run through his first three
innings, but was chased after Gardner-Webb loaded with bases with
two singles and a walk in the fourth.
Campbell tallied ten hits in its first three innings and captured
the momentum early, posting three runs in both the first and third
innings. After both Ellis
Lowe and Brandon Scott singled in the first, three consecutive RBI
singles through the left side by Causey, Zach Johnson and
Watlington followed which gave Campbell an early 3-0 lead.
After Spake blasted a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second,
Campbell countered with three in the third to revitalize its lead
to 7-1. With a pair of
runners on, Watlington smacked an RBI double to right-center
field. Ryan Hamme supplied
Campbell's biggest blow in the inning as he took a 0-1 offering and
placed it down the left field line, plating both Watlington and
Parsons.
The Bulldogs' backbreaker came in the bottom of the fourth inning
when they scored seven runs to take an 8-7 lead. In the inning, six different players
collected hits, including two from Rizzuto. After Smith was chased and Ford took
over with the bases loaded, Gardner-Webb proceeded to stroke five
straight singles, highlighted by a bases loaded, two RBI single
past Campbell's shortstop by Loyd.
Gardner-Webb continued to siphon through Campbell pitchers, posting
four runs in the sixth inning. After Brock Miller was hit by a pitch
and Jamall Kinard was walked, Daniel Cook smoked an RBI single to
left field. Cook would
later score on a passed ball after advancing to third on a throwing
error by Scott. Loyd capped
the inning off with an RBI single up the middle, giving the
Bulldogs a 12-7 lead after six innings.
Gardner-Webb used a Boyles homer in the seventh, but Campbell's
Brian Gana doubled in Causey in the ninth to finalize the score at
13-8. Campbell's late rally was snubbed out when Gana was thrown
out at second bases after making an attempt at a possible triple to
end the game.
Ellis Lowe was the only Camel to have three hits in the contest,
which marks his 13th multi-hit game of the season.
Campbell continues its A-Sun series with Gardner-Webb with a
doubleheader tomorrow at Varsity Field. The first pitch will begin at 12:00
p.m.
