BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Kevin Nelson's RBI ground ball with the bases
loaded in the 10th inning provided the decisive run to lead
Campbell to a 5-4 win over Lipscomb Thursday evening in the opening
game of an Atlantic Sun series at Taylor Field.
Alan Denman walked to lead off the 10th; then took second on Alex
Aycoth's sacrifice bunt. After Zach Johnson was walked
intentionally, Lipscomb reliever Alex Ross (2-4) hit Cam Nelson on
an 0-2 count to load the bases. Kevin Nelson then rapped a
grounder wide to the left of second baseman Kyle Henry, who gloved
the ball, but was unable to connect with shortstop T.J. Hoelzer on
a potential double play.
The schools will complete the 3-game set Friday with a 12 noon
doubleheader. Campbell will honor its nine seniors between games
of the twinbill.
Lipscomb (18-35, 8-16 A-Sun) knotted the score after two outs were
recorded in the ninth. Ryan Wilkins reached on an infield hit;
then moved to second when Kyle Henry walked on a 3-2 pitch. Shawn
Mehring and T.J. Hoelzer followed with RBI hits before Jeff Rydman
struck out Matt Brewer with the go-ahead run on third base.
Camel reliever Jonathan Lopez (4-0) allowed a lead-off single to
Ricky Coleman in the 10th. Tyler Wilson's sac bunt pushed the
potential go ahead run to second base. However, Chris Bangi made a
running grab on M.L. Williams' sinking line drive in left and Zach
Messer grounded out to first to end the threat.
Ross allowed one run off one hit with two walks (one intentional)
and one hit batter in 2 and 1/3 innings.
Campbell (27-26, 7-18) won its first extra-inning game of the year
after four losses and improved to 2-8 in one-run decisions.
Bangi finished 3-of-5 with an RBI for the Camels. Ellis Lowe
doubled and tripled in 5 at-bats and drove in one. Zach Johnson
rapped his 19th double of the year, extending his school career
record to 64 two-baggers, and added his 9th homer of 2010 in 4
trips.
Wilkins led Lipscomb's attack with a pair of hits in 4 at-bats.
Lipscomb jumped in front in the first inning when Wilson led off
with a single, stole second and third base; and scored on Wilkins'
two-out single. Wilson's thefts marked his league-leading 37 and
38th of the season. Williams doubled in the third and later scored
on an error to push the Bisons lead to 2-0.
However, the Camels answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of
the frame. Bangi singled up the middle on an 0-2 count to extend
his string to 50-straight games this year in which he has reached
base via a hit, walk or hit by pitch.
Lowe
followed with an RBI double to right center, his 91st base hit of
the season to break the school record he shared with Mike Priest.
Denman's single down the third base line score Lowe with the
equalizer.
Zach Johnson led off the Campbell fourth with his ninth home run of
the season to push the Camels in front. Kevin Nelson singled and
later scored on Bangi's two-out hit.
Making his final start in a Camel uniform Rydman allowed 4 runs, 3
earned, on 8 hits with one walk and five strikeouts in a
career-high 9 innings.
Lipscomb starter Josh Smith also did not figure in the decision.
The right hander surrendered 4 runs (3 earned) on eight hits with
one walk and 9 strikeouts over 7 innings.
During the night, Campbell broke school records for most extra-base
hits in a season (209), total bases (972) and stolen bases in a
campaign (118). CU extended its team single-season marks for hits
(675) and doubles (156).
