Box Score
BUIES CREEK – Josh Holskey (Roanoke, Va.) and Michael Felton (Tempe, Ariz.) each had three hits and two RBI to give Matt Sergey (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) all the run support he would need as Campbell took a 10-3 victory over Marist in the season opener on Friday afternoon.
CU wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Jake Kirkland tripled in his first at-bat as a Camel with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Michael Felton then singled through the left side in his first plate appearance for the orange and black to put Campbell in front 1-0.
The hosts added to the lead in the third, as David Olson (Auburn, Wash.) registered an RBI groundout to plate leadoff man Jimmy Brenneman (West Chester, Ohio). Felton then smashed a two-run homer to left center to give the Camels a 4-0 advantage.
After Jake Kirkland and Olson reached to begin the Camel fifth inning, Felton laid down a sacrifice bunt that put both runners in scoring position. Holskey drove both Camels in on his double to left center to push the CU lead to 6-0.
Campbell starter Matt Sergey, in his first appearance since 2010 after sitting out last season due to an injury, allowed just one hit through the first five innings. In the Marist sixth, a Camel error with two outs loaded the bases for the Red Foxes. Mike Orefice took advantage for the visitors, clearing the bases on his three RBI double that drew Marist within three at 6-3.
Logan Self came on in relief of Sergey in the seventh and threw three innings of no-hit baseball to halt any Marist rally. The Camels put four insurance runs on the board in the seventh inning, taking advantage of three Marist errors to push the CU lead to seven runs and the game's final margin of 10-3.
Kyle Holmstrom (Livermore, Calif.) went three-for-four for the Camels, while newcomers Brent Graham (Portland, Ore.) and Jake Kirkland (Pauline, S.C.) each contributed two hits. Alec Petrone and Eric Helmrich tallied the other two hits for the Red Foxes.
Sergey (1-0) took the win for the Camels after finishing with three hits and three runs (none earned) during his six innings of work. Marist starter Chad Gallagher (0-1) was credited with the loss, surrendering eleven hits and six earned runs during his six innings on the mound.
The two teams will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.
