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Campbell University

Baseball

Baseball Splits Doubleheader with USC Upstate

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Campbell pounded USC Upstate for 34 hits in the doubleheader as the Fighting Camels won game one, by a 13-6 tally, but dropped the series finale, by a 4-3 score, at Harley Park on Saturday afternoon.

With the split Campbell moves to 18-19 on the season and a 5-13 mark in Atlantic Sun play. Upstate moves to 13-28 and a 3-15 record in conference action.

The win in game one stopped what was a nine game losing streak for the Diamond Camels. The contest featured eleven extra base hits for Campbell as the Camels registered ten doubles and one homerun.

Campbell jumped out to an early lead in game one as Zach Johnson belted a two run shot to left field to give the Camels the early 2-0 lead.

Upstate scored a runner in the second as Brody Greer sent a sacrifice fly to center field that brought around Tyler Cook to score.

In the third Matt Sergey got into some trouble as the Campbell starter gave up a RBI double to Trey Richardson, a Cook RBI single up the middle, and a two RBI triple to Greer before leaving the contest. Sergey gave way to Parker Fleming who allowed a run as Jeff Medley reached on a fielding error by Kevin Nelson but the play allowed Greer to score. Fleming was able to get Joe Barnes to strike out swinging to end the inning.

Campbell stayed silent until the top of the fifth when the Fighting Camels exploded for six runs off of seven hits. The scoring started with a Kevin Nelson RBI single to center field that scored Josh Holskey. Later Bryan Braswell got into the action as the catcher doubled to left field to score Nelson. DJ Johnson registered the third RBI as the senior sacrifice flew out to left field to score Braswell. Zach Johnson continued the inning as the senior doubled to left center to register two additional RBI and ended the Campbell scoring.

In the fifth, Parker Fleming gave up a leadoff single up the middle to Greer and his outing was finished as the sophomore gave way to Daniel Gardo. Gardo came into the contest and pitched a beauty as the southpaw finished the game, going five scoreless innings, and allowing just three hits. The outing was long enough for the redshirt-junior to register his first save of the year.

The Fighting Camels continued the scoring attack in the sixth as Alan Denman advanced home after the junior advanced home following a wild pitch from Upstate reliever Gaither Bumgardner. The lead increased to 10-6 as Braswell notched his second RBI of the afternoon as the senior doubled to left field. Campbell scored an additional two runs off the RBI doubles from Ellis Lowe and Alex Aycoth.

Lowe continued his 5-for-6 outing as he sent his third double and yet another RBI in the top of the eighth to give Campbell the final 13-6 margin.

Parker Fleming was credited with the win as the righty went 1.2 scoreless, while giving up just two hits. Fleming moves to 1-0 on the season.

Ryan Newell was dealt the loss as he never recorded an out yet gave up the go-ahead run in the fifth. Newell falls to 1-3 on the campaign.

In game two the two faced off in what was a pitching dual throughout.

Campbell took an early lead again as Josh Holskey slapped an RBI single to right field for the early 1-0 advantage in the top of the second.

The teams stayed silent until the fifth as Brody Greer and Joe Barnes reached off of singles. Then came a very important moment in Upstate history as Jimmy Tanner slammed a homerun to left field to push Upstate ahead 3-1; that hit tied the all-time hits record for the Spartans, a mark that was held by Campbell Volunteer Assistant Coach John Caddell.

Campbell scampered a run across in the sixth as Alan Denman registered his first hit of the series which was a RBI single through the left side that scored Josh Holskey from second.

Upstate answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the seventh as Brian Dempsey sent a RBI double to left field that scored Blake Green from third to push the lead to 4-2.

The Fighting Camels mounted a fierce comeback in the eighth as Josh Holskey led things off with a double down the right field line. Following two consecutive pop outs by Alan Denman and Kevin Nelson, pinch hitter Bryce Grady stepped to the plate, delivered a two out RBI single up the middle to score Holskey and extend the inning. Cameron Nelson came up to the dish and knocked a single up the middle that advanced Grady to third. With DJ Johnson at the plate Cameron Nelson and Grady attempted a double steal.

Catcher Jimmy Tanner threw to second attempting to get Nelson out as Grady broke for home. On the relay from Brody Greer, Tanner couldn't come up with the tag and Grady missed touching home plate. This led to an interesting situation as neither team knew what had happened. Grady stood by the visiting dugout waiting for a call from home plate umpire Barry Chambers. Upon no answer from Chambers about whether or not he was out Grady bounced around the tag from Tanner and dashed back to the plate but was tagged out, in another close play, by pitcher Tyler Oliver.

Campbell was unable to come up with a run in the ninth and Upstate escaped with the win.

Jeff Rydman got his first weekend start since the opening weekend against UNC Asheville and did not disappoint through his outing as the senior struck out a career tying eight batters, in 6.1 innings. But the to Jimmy Tanner proved to be the winning run as the southpaw was dealt the loss and moved to 2-2 on the season.

Philip Brannon was credited with the win as he went seven innings, gave up two earned runs and scattered 11 hits. Brannon moves to 2-6 on the year. Tyler Oliver registered his second save of the series and his fourth on the year as he went two innings while giving up just one earned run off of four hits.

Campbell will be back in action on Tuesday night as the Fighting Camels welcome in East Carolina to Taylor Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Bryan Braswell

#11 Bryan Braswell

C
6' 1"
Senior
Alan Denman

#23 Alan Denman

INF/OF
6' 3"
Junior
Parker Fleming

#16 Parker Fleming

RHP
6' 1"
Sophomore
Daniel Gardo

#24 Daniel Gardo

LHP
6' 4"
Redshirt
Bryce Grady

#6 Bryce Grady

INF
5' 11"
Redshirt
Josh Holskey

#37 Josh Holskey

INF
6' 2"
Sophomore
DJ Johnson

#7 DJ Johnson

INF
5' 7"
Senior
Zach Johnson

#4 Zach Johnson

OF
6' 1"
Senior
Ellis Lowe

#8 Ellis Lowe

INF
6' 1"
Junior
Cameron Nelson

#17 Cameron Nelson

OF/LHP
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Bryan Braswell

#11 Bryan Braswell

6' 1"
Senior
C
Alan Denman

#23 Alan Denman

6' 3"
Junior
INF/OF
Parker Fleming

#16 Parker Fleming

6' 1"
Sophomore
RHP
Daniel Gardo

#24 Daniel Gardo

6' 4"
Redshirt
LHP
Bryce Grady

#6 Bryce Grady

5' 11"
Redshirt
INF
Josh Holskey

#37 Josh Holskey

6' 2"
Sophomore
INF
DJ Johnson

#7 DJ Johnson

5' 7"
Senior
INF
Zach Johnson

#4 Zach Johnson

6' 1"
Senior
OF
Ellis Lowe

#8 Ellis Lowe

6' 1"
Junior
INF
Cameron Nelson

#17 Cameron Nelson

6' 0"
Junior
OF/LHP