BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Campbell bats came to life in a big way and the offense exploded for 17 runs to top Liberty 17-3. Five Camels notched multi-RBI games and three went deep as part of big night for the bats.
 
The scoring started early with the Camels putting up a three-spot in the first. Collin Wolf picked up an RBI on a sac fly to open the scoring and Matthew Christian laced a double to plate a pair and give the Camels the early edge.
 
Liberty threatened to get them all right back, but Campbell starter Ryan Chasse, making his first start in over a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, left the bases loaded and escaped allowing just one run.
 
Campbell quickly added to its lead with the biggest inning of the game and posted a five-spot in the bottom of the second. Collin Wolf picked up two-more RBI on a double down the left field line. Two batters later, Zach Williams lifted a ball into a stiff breeze blowing out to right and carried one over the wall for a three-run shot, both his and the team's first home run of the season.
 
Liberty again tried to claw their way back after a two-run homer of their own off the bat of Cam Locklear to cut the lead to 8-3. But Chasse and the bullpen slammed the door and Liberty would not score again.
 
In the bottom of the third, Ryan Parquette blasted one out to left, his first of the season and second of his career. Wolf drove in another with an RBI single before Spencer Packard roped a double to right-center and plated two more. After three innings the Camels held a 12-3 lead.
 
Campbell tacked on four more in the sixth courtesy of a Matthew Christian home run, a two-run single from Connor Denning and an RBI single from Zach Williams. The final run came in the eighth on a sac fly from Lawson Harrill.
 
For as good as the offense was, the pitching staff backed them up the whole way. After Chasse threw 5.0 IP, allowing three runs, (two earned) and fanning six, the trio of Cade Boxrucker, Fred Sisco and Jonathan Tyler held the Flames scoreless for the final four innings. The bullpen struck out seven and walked just two to help keep Liberty off the board.
 
Campbell, last year's national leaders in HBP, got plunked six times tonight, including two by Zach Neto and two by Waldy Arias.
 
The 14-run victory is the largest win for the Camels since downing Charleston Southern 14-0 on May 3, 2019. The 17 runs is the most in a game since they put up 20, also on Charleston Southern, on May 23, 2019.
 
The 17 runs is also the most runs scored in a single game of the opening weekend since Campbell plated 19 in the 2002 season opener against Delaware State.
 
The series rubber-match is set for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Freshman Thomas Harrington is expected to get the ball for the Camels and make his collegiate debut on the mound.