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Campbell University

Baseball

Upset! Johnson's 11th Inning Heroics Send CU Past Second Ranked North Carolina 7-5

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Campbell (8-31, 2-13 A-Sun) scored all of its runs with two outs, including a two-out, Zach Johnson RBI single in the 11th inning, to upset second ranked North Carolina (32-7, 13-5 ACC) by a score of 7-5 Tuesday evening at Boshamer Stadium.

Ryan Hamme (3-1) picked up his third win of the year by throwing the final three innings in relief for CU. Tim Federowicz (1-2) took the loss for the Tar Heels, allowing two runs in 1.1 innings of work. It was the first time since 1996 the Camels had defeated North Carolina, snapping a seven-game skid against the Tar Heels.

Campbell capped off a wild final three frames to take its third lead of the game in the 11th. Two walks in the inning gave Johnson a shot with two outs, as he delivered with his second RBI of the game, scoring Jacob Allen for the winning run. Carlton Floyd's double added insurance to give the Camels a two-run cushion, as Hamme secured the win in the bottom of the inning.

North Carolina came from one run down to tie the game in disputed fashion in the ninth. After the first out, Dustin Ackley hit a deep blast to center field. Floyd appeared to make a juggling catch as he plowed into the center field fence, but it was ruled he trapped the ball against the wall, as Ackley went for a triple. Federowicz followed with a double to plate the tying run.

The inning ended in dramatic fashion, as Drew Poulk was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Kyle Seager hit a ground ball to Hamme and he whirled to second, trying to turn the inning-ending double play. Robb Meng's throw from second to first was in the dirt, as Federowicz tried to score from second, but Allen's pick and throw home got Federowicz to keep things tied at four.

Campbell survived the scare in the ninth to set-up another dramatic two-out rally in the 10th. With men on first and second, Hamme reached out and poked what looked to be the winning hit to center field, scoring Johnson and giving the Camels a 5-4 lead.

Carolina, three outs from defeat for the second time in the game, used a big blast in their half of the 10th to tie the game back up. Seager took a two-strike slider from Hamme and deposited it over the 355 sign in right to send the game to the eleventh, knotted at five.

Floyd and Johnson both had three hits, with Johnson adding two runs and two RBI, to go along with Smith's three-run slam in the fifth inning. Ackley, Federowicz and Chad Flack all had four hits, with Flack adding a solo home run, to lead the Tar Heel bats.

The upset-bound Camels took the lead with two big hits in the fifth inning. Johnson lined a two-out double over the head of Reid Fronk to tie the game at one. After Carolina brought Rob Catapano out of the bullpen, a Floyd walk brought Smith to the plate. Smith turned on a fastball, belting the first home run of his career to put CU up 4-1.

The Tar Heels came back in the sixth inning with two runs to cut the lead to one. Ackley and Federowicz led off with back-to-back singles, advancing to second and third on a Mike Causey error, to start the rally. Josh Horton and Poulk then countered with an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly to make it 4-3.

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak for Campbell and was only Carolina's second non-conference loss this season. Campbell and the Heels both have road games this weekend, as UNC travels to Florida State and Campbell goes to Nashville to face Lipscomb. First pitch for the Camels and Bisons on Friday is 7:00.



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Players Mentioned

Jacob Allen

#8 Jacob Allen

INF
6' 1"
Sophomore
Carlton Floyd

#24 Carlton Floyd

OF/LHP
5' 11"
Sophomore
Ryan Hamme

#14 Ryan Hamme

1B/RHP
6' 3"
Sophomore
Zach Johnson

#4 Zach Johnson

2B
6' 1"
Freshman
Robb Meng

#11 Robb Meng

3B
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jacob Allen

#8 Jacob Allen

6' 1"
Sophomore
INF
Carlton Floyd

#24 Carlton Floyd

5' 11"
Sophomore
OF/LHP
Ryan Hamme

#14 Ryan Hamme

6' 3"
Sophomore
1B/RHP
Zach Johnson

#4 Zach Johnson

6' 1"
Freshman
2B
Robb Meng

#11 Robb Meng

6' 0"
Junior
3B