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.