JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In a game that turned into a pitcher's
duel, Campbell (19-15, 5-10 A-Sun) would score two runs in the
final inning to defeat Jacksonville (23-12, 12-7 A-Sun) by a score
of 3-2. With the win,
Campbell is now on a five game win streak, the second longest
streak of the season.
Jacksonville got the low scoring affair started with a run in the
first inning. Chuck
Opachich would score a run for the Dolphins after Thomas Myers was
walked with the bases loaded.
Campbell would respond in the top half of the second inning. With one out, Alex Aycoth
(Sanford, Fla.) would single through the left side. Aycoth would advance to second base
when Bryan Braswell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) grounded out to the third
baseman.
With two outs, Graham Fronk (Charlotte, N.C.) would single back up
the middle allowing Aycoth to score and tie the game at 1-1. The RBI by Fronk was his
13th of the season, while Aycoth scored run number 26 of
the season.
Over the next three and a half innings, the Camels and the Dolphins
would post zeros on the scoreboard. Jacksonville would end the scoring
drought in the home half of the sixth inning.
The Dolphins would get a key two out hit from Jamaal Hawkins. With Jonathon Murphy standing on
third, Hawkins would single up the middle allowing Murphy to
score. Hawkins' RBI gave
the Dolphins a 2-1 lead after six complete.
Jeff Rydman (Gladstone, Mo.) would get the start on the hill for
the Camels. Rydman would
pitch five complete innings for Campbell. The junior allowed just two runs on
six hits while striking out five batters. Rydman tied his career high of five
strikeouts; Rydman also had five strikeouts against Dayton on March
18th.
Dan Gardo would come in to relieve Rydman and the redshirt
sophomore would not disappoint. Gardo would pitch three complete
innings giving up just two hits and more importantly zero runs,
while fanning four batters.
Gardo (1-2) would be credited with his first win of the season
thanks to a huge ninth inning for the Camels.
In
the top of the ninth, Zach Johnson (Smithfield, N.C.) would hit a
double to the left center field gap. Johnson's double was his
22nd of the season and ties the single season school
record set by Mike Priest in the 2005 season. With one out and Johnson on second,
Alex Aycoth would drive in Johnson. Aycoth doubled down the right field
line, allowing Johnson to tie the score at 2-2.
With Aycoth standing at second, Braswell would ground out to the
third baseman, which allowed Aycoth to advance to third. Graham Fronk would be next up to
bat for the Camels. With a
1-2 count, Jacksonville hurler Chris Kaminski would throw a pitch
in the dirt. The wild pitch
allowed Aycoth to advance 90 feet for what proved to be the winning
run.
Ryan Hamme (Wilmington, N.C.) would come in to pitch the final
inning for Campbell. Hamme
faced just four batters, struck out two and walked one en route to
his second save of the season.
Jacksonville started Matt Loosen on the hill. Loosen pitched eight complete innings,
allowing just one run on six hits, while striking out 10
batters. Chris Kaminski
(3-1) came in to relieve Loosen and would blow the save and be
credited with his first loss of the season. Kaminski allowed two runs on two hits
while facing just five Campbell batters.
Campbell and Jacksonville will complete their three game conference
series tomorrow afternoon.
Saturday's doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
