SHELBY, N.C. — Corey Howard broke an eight-all tie in the 12th inning with an RBI single to right field as Gardner-Webb secured a walk-off win over Campbell in the series opener Friday night at Keeter Stadium.
Matthew Christian cranked a three-run homer to the lead the Camels offensively. AJ Hrica, Matthew Barefoot and Collin Wolf each had two-hit performances; Wolf also had a long ball, hitting a solo home run in the third.
Campbell starter Seth Johnson went just four innings, his shortest outing in Big South play this season. The junior allowed six hits, four earned, on five hits and one walk. He struck out five.
Jarrett Thompson (1-1) picked up the win, going the final 3.2 innings with no runs on three hits and four walks; he struck out one.
Phil Simpson (0-1) took the loss, allowing the game-winning run in the bottom of the twelfth on two hits and a walk.
The Camels jumped out to a 6-0 lead by scoring six runs in the second inning, all with two outs on the board. Wolf was hit by the first pitch of the frame before Minnick drew a five-pitch walk. A failed sac bunt attempt with two strikes and a pickoff of Minnick at first got GWU the first two outs, but a Koby Collins walk and Tyler Anshaw hit by pitch loaded the bases for Hrica.
Hrica lined a 2-2 pitch off the first baseman's glove and the ball scurried into right field, allowing Wolf and Collins to score from third and second, respectively. Barefoot kept the inning going by singling up the middle before Christian pushed across runs four, five and six with a two-out, three-run dinger to left-center field.
Wolf, who got Campbell's six-run second inning started with a walk, also led off the third and crushed a solo home run over the left-center-field fence to pad CU's lead to 7-0.
In the bottom of the third, Johnson retired the first two batters he faced but allowed a four-pitch walk to GWU's leadoff batter. An infield single placed runners on first and second for GWU's Chandler Redmond who sent a 2-2 pitch over the right-center fence for his 10th home run of the season, cutting Campbell's advantage to four runs, 7-3.
Gardner-Webb scored three runs, two unearned, on two hits and three errors in the fourth, trimming Campbell's once seven-run lead to one, 7-6.
Landry Moore entered the game in the bottom of the fifth and allowed a leadoff double. The runner advanced to third on a groundout and then scored one batter later on a single up the middle, tying the game at 7-7.
The scored remained 7-7 until the top of ninth as Hrica got the inning started with a one-out double into the left-field gap. The Bulldogs elected to intentionally walk Barefoot before Christian popped out for the second out, but, one batter later, Gimenez sent the first pitch he saw through the right side to score Hrica from second. Wolf drew a walk to load the bases but a fielder's choice ended the inning, sending CU to the ninth with an 8-7 lead.
Jonathan Tyler, who pitched the previous 1.2 innings, returned to pitch the ninth. GWU's leadoff batter singled on the first pitch and then advanced to second on an error; the runner scorer on an RBI base hit through the right side, tying the score at 8-8. After Tyler issued a walk to place runners on first and second with two gone, Tyson Messer was called in. The senior righty dealt a strikeout, sending the game to extra innings.
The Camels left the bases loaded in the 10th and 11th innings. In the top of the 11th, Wolf raced down the first base line to leg out a one-out infield single before Minnick doubled off the center-field wall. Gardner-Webb intentionally walked Harris to load the bases, but Witt flied out and Anshaw went down on strikes.
After getting the first out of the 11th with a flyout, Messer issued two consecutive walks. The senior handed the ball over to fellow senior Phil Simpson who induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Hrica led off the top of the 12th with a walk, the ninth walk issued by the Gardner-Webb pitching staff, but he was erased at second on a fielder's choice. Christian flew out and Gimenez grounded out, stranding the 13th and final Campbell baserunner of the ballgame.
Simpson returned to pitch the 12th and allowed a leadoff double off the center-field wall. He intentionally walked Redmond, but the Howard singled into right field, scoring the game-winning run.
The Camels look to even the series Saturday, April 6 as game two is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch at Keeter Stadium.
