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BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Anthony Lopez drove in three and Campbell erased an early 4-0 deficit to top Longwood 8-6 Sunday, sweeping its opening Big South series and extending its win streak to 14 games.
Campbell (17-2, 3-0 Big South) took games one and two of the series 3-2 and 7-1 over the visiting Lancers (6-11, 0-3), sweeping its opening Big South series for the second time in four seasons.
CU's 14 game winning streak is the second longest in school history behind the 2012 team, who won 18 in a row on the way to a 23-3 start. This season's 17-2 start is a program best through 19 games.
After surrendering a four-run first that included a two-run home run from Kyri Washington, Campbell clawed back with a run on an Anthony Lopez double off the wall in left, scoring Steven Leonard.
CU starter Travis Long settled in with a 1-2-3 second, and the Camels came another run closer when Drew Butler's infield hit allowed Brian Taylor to score in the bottom of the frame.
With Leonard aboard again in the bottom of the third, Lopez smashed his first homer as a Camel, a 1-0 offering, over the wall in center, tying the game at 4-all.
While CU reliever Bobby Thorson retired 13 Lancers in a row from the final out of the third through the top of the seventh, Campbell scored five, adding a run in the fourth on a Leonard RBI bunt single, another in the fifth on Butler's RBI infield hit, and again in the seventh when Taylor scored on a Longwood error, making it 7-4 CU.
Longwood broke through in the top of the eighth with a Travis Biddix RBI double and a sacrifice fly from Brandon Delk, bringing the Lancers within a run at 7-6.
Campbell, however, padded its lead in the eighth when James Moody scored on a Lancer error.
Brandon Harvelle reached for the Lancers in the top of the ninth with a leadoff single, but Cole Hallum shut the door to end the inning and preserve the win.
Thorson (2-1) picked up the win in relief, allowing two runs on three hits with a strikeout in 4 1/3, while Long worked 2 2/3, surrendering four runs, one earned, with five punchouts.
Hallum earned his fourth save with a strikeout and a hit in a scoreless ninth, while Coley Thompkins bridged the gap, allowing a hit with a strikeout.
For the third time in four games, Campbell did not issue a walk.
Brandon Vick (0-2) took the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts in four innings.
After going 3-for-5 in Saturday's win, Lopez ended the day 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored for Campbell. In his first start of the season, Butler went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Leonard tallied a 3-for-4 outing, scoring twice and knocking in a run.
Brian Taylor also scored twice in the win, going 2-for-4, as Campbell tied its season high with 15 hits.
Delk was 3-for-3 with a RBI and a run for Longwood.
Campbell welcomes the College of Charleston on Tuesday, March 17, at Jim Perry Stadium before heading to UNCW on Wednesday for a makeup date. The Camels head to High Point over the weekend, continuing Big South play.
