BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell split an Atlantic Sun Conference
doubleheader with Lipscomb Friday at Taylor Field to secure
back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2001.
Lipscomb claimed the opener 9-7 in 11 innings, while the Camels won
the nightcap 5-4.
In his final collegiate playing appearance, Campbell senior
outfielder Chris Bangi went 4-of-7 in the twinbill and finished the
season by reaching base via a hit, walk or hit by pitch in all 52
games he played. Fellow senior Alex Aycoth drove in 5 runs on the
day.
Camel right-hander Joe Wagstaff (2-0) allowed just 4 hits and 2
runs in 4 1/3 innings of relief to earn the win. Coupled with last
night's 5-4 victory in 10 innings, Campbell won the 3-game
series.
Lipscomb (19-36, 9-17) cut the gap to 5-4 in the ninth when Ryan
Wilkins doubled off Wagstaff to lead off the inning. Andrew
Nickerson greeted Jonathan Lopez with a RBI double, but the senior
left-hander was able to record pop up outs by Cory Hale and Ricky
Coleman. Lopez then struck out Shawn Mehring looking to record his
first save.
Cameron Nelson went 3-for-4 to lead the Campbell (28-27, 8-19)
attack. Bangi and Aycoth both drove in a pair of runs.
Lipscomb starter Mike Grace (1-3) allowed 5 runs (4 earned) off 8
hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Camel starter Logan Self
worked 3 2/3 frames, surrendering 2 runs on 5 hits.
In the second game, Lipscomb jumped in front with two runs in the
first. However, Bangi and Ellis Lowe led off the bottom of the
frame with walks, and later scored on Aycoth's two-run single, his
fourth and fifth RBI of the twinbill.
Bangi's sacrifice fly in the second put the Camels ahead 3-2. Then
D.J. Johnson and Bangi delivered run-scoring hits to push the edge
to 5-2 after five.
The Bisons cut the gap to 5-3 in the eighth on M.L. Williams' RBI
ground out, but Wagstaff retired Zach Messer on a grounder to third
to end the threat.
Lipscomb rallied from a six-run deficit to claim a 9-7 victory in
11 innings in the opener.
The Bisons escaped bases-loaded jams in the fifth and 10th innings
without allowing a run; then took the lead in the top of the 11th.
Campbell won the opening game of the series Thursday night, 5-4 in
10 innings
M.L. Williams doubled off Lopez (4-1) to lead off the inning, then
Zach Messer doubled down the left field line off Frank Zier.
Messer took third on a wild pitch, then scored on Logan
Hostettler's sacrifice fly to center.
Alan Denman walked to lead off the 10th; then took second on Colin
Parker's sacrifice bunt. Josh Cotham balked Denman to third; then
intentionally walked Zach Johnson and Cameron Nelson to load the
bases. Pinch-hitter Bryce Grady struck out, then Kevin Nelson
flied out to right to end the threat.
Cotham (2-4) tossed two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit
to earn the win.
Campbell (27-27, 7-19) scored in each of the first four innings,
capped by Alex Aycoth's two-run that pushed the margin to 6-0.
However, Lipscomb sent 10 men to the plate in the top of the sixth
against Camel starter Logan Davis. Lee Wilson's two-run single cut
the margin to 6-5, but Davis was able to catch Tyler Wilson looking
to end the frame.
Zach Johnson answered with his 10th home run of the year in the
bottom of the sixth and Campbell led 7-5. But Ryan Wilkins'
run-scoring single in the seventh trimmed the Camel lead to
one.
The Bisons rallied to tie the score at 7 in the ninth when Wilkins
walked and later scored on Andrew Nickerson's flare single to
right.
Williams went 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles to lead the Lipscomb
offense in the opener. Tyler Wilson, Messer, Wilkins and Lee
Wilson added two hits apiece.
Aycoth drove in 3 and Bangi had 3 hits in the opener for the
Camels, who amassed 13 hits, but stranded 17 runners on base.
