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BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Campbell fired doubles in four straight innings, but 11 strikeouts by Gardner-Webb's Matt Fraudin evened the Big South series on Saturday afternoon as the Runnin' Bulldogs earned a 5-0 victory.
The Camels (26-19, 9-11) were shut out for just the second time this season as Gardner-Webb (20-27, 6-14) snapped a five-game skid. Campbell took Friday night's series opener 6-4 after Cole Hallum's homer in the ninth provided the insurance run.
The rubber game of the series is scheduled for a first pitch at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb's Fraudin (4-4) struck out 11 batters in 7 1/3 innings of work, scattering five hits with no runs and no walks in the performance. Brad Haymes earned the save after allowing one hit and striking out one in 1 2/3 innings.
Campbell starter Nick Thayer (5-4) pitched a complete game, allowing nine hits and five runs (two earned) with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Gardner-Webb grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Scott Johnson's sacrifice fly plated Collin Thacker for an unearned run.
The two sides played level until the bottom of the fifth, when the Runnin' Bulldogs turned three hits into a pair of runs, capped by Sam Fulginiti's sacrifice bunt to score Tyler Best that gave Gardner-Webb a 3-0 advantage.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took advantage of Campbell error in the bottom of the seventh, driving in an unearned run off Ryan Hodge's single to left.
Gardner-Webb capped the afternoon's scoring with another unearned run in the bottom of the eighth as Will Canady's sacrifice bunt drove home Henry Rundio.
Dustin Krob went 2-for-3 with a double for the Camels, and Hallum also added a double while going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Thacker and Hodge each went 2-for-4 for Gardner-Webb, while Best and Johnson each scored a run and recorded one RBI apiece.
The Camels will head to North Carolina State (Tuesday, May 5) and North Carolina Central (Wednesday, May 6) before returning to Jim Perry Stadium for a three game set with Pac-12 member California.
