BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Down 9-0 after the third, Campbell rallied to defeat Gardner-Webb 11-10 and take the Big South weekend series on the road Sunday at JH Moss Stadium.
Campbell improves to 16-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play with the win, while Gardner-Webb dips to 12-7-1 on the season and 1-2 in Big South games.
After the Bulldogs pounded out nine runs, including five in the first, on eight hits in the game's first three innings, Campbell answered in the fourth with Nick Ray doubling in Michael Felton and David Olson, putting the Camels on the board.
Michael DeLucia then singled to right, bringing Ray home and cutting the Bulldogs lead to 9-3.
GWU added another run in the bottom of the fourth, with John Harris knocking in Brad Collins, who reached on a double to left center.
Campbell continued its comeback effort in the fifth with Trevor Lane and Clayton Brown leading off with singles. After Ben McQuown followed with a walk, John Reilly's RBI groundout brought one home for CU. Felton's infield hit to second then scored Brown to make it 10-5.
Olson's double two batters later scored two more for the Camels, and with two away in the inning, DeLucia hammered the first pitch he saw to right for two RBI, plating Olson and Elijah Trail to bring the score to 10-9 Gardner-Webb.
After the sixth and seventh innings went scoreless, Campbell's John Reilly singled through the right side with two out, scoring Jesse Simmons from second, who reached on a fielder's choice. Felton finally put the Camels in front, chopping his second infield hit of the afternoon to score McQuown and complete the comeback.
Ryan Thompson (1-0), who entered the game in the bottom of the fourth with one out, pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings to collect his first win of the year. The junior righthander allowed just four hits, striking out two and walking a pair.
Campbell starter Heath Bowers pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing 10 runs, just five earned, on 10 hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
GWU's Conner Scarborough was charged with the loss, falling to 1-3 on the season after allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk . Andrew Barnett, the Bulldog starter, surrendered eight runs, five earned, on seven hits with six punchouts and two walks.
DeLucia paced Campbell at the plate with three RBI on a 2-for-5 day, while Reilly, Felton, Olson and Ray each knocked in two. Felton scored twice and notched two hits, while Lane went 3-for-4 with a run for the Camels. Olson and McQuown also scored twice in the win.
Brad Collins led GWU with three hits with two runs scored and a RBI, while Benji Jackson totaled three RBI and a run scored on a 2-for-4 day.
Campbell returns home for its next matchup, hosting Rider in a two-game midweek set Tuesday and Wednesday, March 19-20 at Jim Perry Stadium. The Camels get back to Big South play next weekend at UNC Asheville, March 22-24.
