CONWAY, S.C. — Junior infielder Collin Wolf hit 2-for-4 with three RBI in CU's season opener, leading the Camels to a 10-6 comeback, extra-inning win over Maryland on day one of the Brittain Resorts Invitational at Springs Brooks Stadium.
With a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the ninth, Campbell closer Tyson Messer was called upon to close out the game in the ninth but two walks and two wild pitches allowed Maryland to tie it up at 6-6. With a runner on third and two outs, the senior righty ended the inning with a strikeout, his third on the inning.
Tyler Anshaw led off the tenth frame with a double and then Grant Harris drew a walk to put Camels on first and second with one out. Collin Wolf ripped a double into left center to drive in Anshaw and Harris, putting the Camels ahead, 8-6.
Maryland intentionally walked Matthew Barefoot and then he and Wolf advanced to second and third on a balk. One batter later, AJ Hrica sent a shallow fly ball into right field to plate Wolf, and then Luis Gimenez produced an infield single to pad CU's lead to four runs, 10-6.
Right-handed submariner Landry Moore came on in the bottom of the tenth and closed the game out, striking out one.
Wolf (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) drove in three runs to lead the Camels offensively. The transfer from Tacoma Community College (Wash.), launched his first career home run as a Fighting Camel in the fifth inning, a leadoff shot to left center.
Spencer Packard (1-for-4, HR, 2 R) and Matthew Christian (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), transfers from Arizona Western College (Ariz.) and Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (Ala.), respectively, also hit their first career dingers as Fighting Camels.
Luis Gimenez (2-for-6, 1 RBI), AJ Hrica (1-for-5), Zach Minnick (1-for-4, 2 R) and Tyler Anshaw (1-for-4, R, RBI) also notched hits for Campbell. Barefoot (0-for-2, 3 HBP, 1 RBI), who led the Big South with 23 hit by pitches a season ago, was hit three times on the day. As a team, the Camels accumulated five hit by pitches.
Messer (1-0) earned the win, striking out three in his one inning of action in the ninth. Phil Simpson collected four K's over 2.1 innings, while Jonathan Tyler came on to pitch the seventh and eighth innings, allowing no runs with one strikeout. The Campbell pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Terrapins.
Maryland scored one in the first and second, and scored two in the third to take a 5-0 lead after three complete. With two outs in the top of the fourth, Packard put Campbell on the board with a shot over the right field fence.
Minnick and Anshaw drew back-to-back walks before advancing on a wild pitch with Matthew Christian at the plate. Christian worked the count full to eventually loaded the bases on Hunter Parsons' third straight walk, but the Maryland ace caught Grant Harris looking to end the inning with the three-run lead intact, 4-1.
Maryland went to the bullpen in the top of the sixth. Barefoot was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs to bring home Minnick, cutting the deficit to two, 5-3.
The Camels took their first lead in the top of seventh. Packard was hit by a pitch and then advanced to third following a Minnick double to right field. Packard scored on an Anshaw groundout before a left-field dinger off the bat of Christian earned CU the 6-5 lead.
The Terrapins drew two walks in the bottom of the seventh and each time the Minnick, the Campbell backstop, erased the baserunner via a caught stealing. Minnick also picked off a runner in the eighth.
The Camels are back in action Saturday, Feb. 16 as CU faces VCU on day two of the Brittain Resorts Invitational. First pitch is slated for an 11 a.m. start at Springs Brooks Stadium.
