BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After three straight contests of scoring
seven runs or fewer, Campbell had little trouble eclipsing that
total, as they defeated NC State by a score of 16-7.
With Saturday's win at Taylor Field, Campbell improves to 24-19 on
the season, while NC State dips to 20-26.
It
was Campbell striking first with a three run first
inning. Campbell found runners on second and third
with two outs and capitalized on the opportunity.
Zach Johnson (Smithfield, N.C.) hit his 28th double of
the season, a double that allowed Ellis Lowe (San Diego, Calif.)
and Ryan Hamme (Wilmington, N.C.) to score. The
Camels extended their lead to 3-0 when Alex Aycoth (Sanford, Fla.)
doubled off the right field wall, which allowed Zach Johnson to
score.
NC
State would answer the Camels fast start with a five run second
inning. A rally that knocked Campbell's starting
pitcher Logan Davis (Ft. Cobb, Okla.) from the game.
Davis pitched just one and two-thirds of an inning, giving up five
runs on just six hits.
Campbell would respond to the Wolfpack rally as it posted three
runs in the home half of the second. With the bases
loaded, Ryan Hamme doubled to the left center field
gap. That double allowed Ellis Lowe to advance to
third, while Stephen Parsons (Chesapeake, Va.) and Chris Bangi
(Jacksonville, Fla.) were able to score. Ellis Lowe
scored on a Brian Gana (Richland, Wash.) RBI groundout as the
Camels took a 6-5 lead.
The Wolfpack bats quickly cooled, however the Camels seemed to find
hotter bats. Campbell broke open what was a close
game by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the third inning to
take a nine run lead. Highlighting the Campbell third
inning was a Kevin Nelson (Sunrise, Fla.) two RBI double down the
left field line; as well as Alex Aycoth's first home run in a
Campbell uniform. The three run home run to left
center field gave the Camels the 14-5 lead.
Junior southpaw Hunter Ford (Wilmington, N.C.) was credited with
his fourth win of the season after relieving Logan
Davis. Ford (4-2) pitched 4.1 innings, giving up just
two runs on two hits.
Campbell tallied a single run in both the fourth and fifth innings,
while NC State pushed across two runs in the top of the
sixth. The two runs scored by the Wolfpack set the
final margin at 16-7.
Ryan Hamme pitched the final three innings for Campbell on
Saturday. The senior gave up just one hit while
striking out three; two of the three strikeouts came in the final
inning. Hamme was credited with his third save of the
season, which is a team high.
NC
State hurler John Lambert (1-3) was credited with the loss after
pitching just 1.1 innings, giving up six runs on five
hits. NC State used three pitchers to close out the
game. Jake Buchannan, Travis High and Cory Mazzoni
gave up a combined seven hits while 10 runs came around to
score.
Entering Saturday's game, Campbell, as a team, needed just four
stolen bases to surpass the single season mark of
106. With five stolen bases against the Wolfpack,
Campbell now has 108 on the season, surpassing the record held by
the 2008 squad.
The 16 runs that Campbell scored on Saturday ties the school record
for the second most runs scored in a single game against an
Atlantic Coast Conference opponent. Campbell scored
16 runs in a game against North Carolina in the 1982 season, while
scoring 19 in a single game against the Tar Heels in 1986.
Alex Aycoth led the Camels at the dish after batting 3-of-4 with a
double and a home run. Aycoth had four RBI and scored
two runs.
Campbell will return to the diamond on Tuesday when they travel to
Greensboro, N.C. First pitch between the Camels and
the UNC-G Spartans is slated for 7 p.m.
