BUIES CREEK, N.C. — Senior right-hander Michael Horrell tossed Campbell's first complete game of the season as the Fighting Camels defeated Presbyterian 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Jim Perry Stadium.
With the win, the Camels clinched their third consecutive Big South series of 2019, and the conference series win is their eight straight, dating back to last season.
Horrell, a fourth-year senior, improved his record to 4-1 with his first complete game since his freshman season in 2016. The righty collected six strikeouts with one walk while allowing seven hits. Horrell was not charged with an earned run across his nine innings of work, allowing two unearned runs in the sixth.
Horrell's complete game was CU's first since 2018 graduate Wes Noble tossed a complete game shutout on May 13, 2018.
Presbyterian righty Johnny Cook (1-1) took the loss, giving up two earned runs on four hits in his four innings of relief. PC's starter Jake Rice went just one inning after suffering an injury; he had two strikeouts in his one inning on the mound.
Matthew Barefoot launched the go-ahead home run in the seventh that put the Camels ahead 3-2, clinking the baseball off the left field foul pole for his fifth long ball of the season.
Koby Collins, a Blinn College transfer from Houston had a double and an infield single in the win, good for his fourth multi-hit outing this year. Grant Harris had a pinch-hit, RBI double, and Mathew Christian doubled off the left field fence, rounding out CU's four extra-base hits on the day.
Luis Gimenez drove in the first run of the ballgame in the third inning with a single up the middle. Christian lined a one-out double and then advanced to third two pitches later on Barefoot's groundout to first. Tyler Anshaw was hit by a pitch, which put runners on the corners for Gimenez, who scored Christian from third with his RBI base hit.
Presbyterian took the lead in the sixth by scoring a pair of unearned runs on two hits and two errors, going ahead 2-1.
The Camels tied and then took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. With Cameron Witt on first, Harris laced a pinch-hit double down the right-field line, tying the score at 2-2. Harris was thrown out trying to advance to third, but one pitch later, Barefoot put the Camels ahead 3-2 with a solo shot that hit the top of the left field foul pole.
Horrell came back out to pitch the ninth and needed just seven pitches to sit the Blue Hose down in order with two groundouts and a flyout.
Campbell and Presbyterian will meet again Sunday, March 31 as the Fighting Camels go for their second Big South series sweep, fourth overall this season. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at Jim Perry Stadium.
