Box Score BUIES CREEK, N.C. – A suicide squeeze in the seventh proved to be the decisive run in the Camels 3-2 win over Liberty Sunday afternoon. The bats weren't as hot as Saturday, but the pitching staff was lights out to keep Liberty at bay for most of the game and allow the offense enough time to manufacture a few late runs.
Five Campbell pitchers combined to hold the Flames to five hits and two runs while striking out 11 on the day.
Thomas Harrington got the start in his collegiate debut and was impressive through five innings. The Sanford, NC native allowed only two hits and one run while striking out six. Two other freshman,
Ty Cummings and
Cade Kuehler each made their debuts today as well. Cummings threw 0.2 innings scoreless and Kuehler earned the win with 1.2 scoreless innings.
Liberty got on the board in the second on an RBI double from Brady Gulakowski. That was the only scoring for either side through the first five innings.
In the sixth, Campbell evened the score on a sac fly by
Spencer Packard. Packard lifted one to shallow left, and Mason de la Cruz opted to tag up. Cruz slid in head-first just ahead of the one-hop throw to the plate to tie it up at 1-1.
Liberty quickly retook the lead in the top of the seventh on an RBI single. Still threatening with runners on second and third, Kuehler got the next two batters to pop up and escaped the jam with no more harm done.
The Camels took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the frame.
Ryan Parquette shot a two-strike single back up the middle to plate Halstead and tie the game. After a wild pitch moved Parquette to third and the count to 2-2, head coach
Justin Haire called for the suicide squeeze.
Waldy Arias dropped one perfectly down the third base line to score Parquette and reach first himself. Campbell couldn't push another across in the seventh but the damage was done to make the score 3-2.
Liberty put runners on the corners with one out in the eighth, but Kuehler locked in and picked up a strikeout and infield popup to preserve the lead.
Kevin Westlake made his first appearance of the year in the ninth and worked a 1-2-3 inning for the save.
Despite the low-scoring affair,
Collin Wolf collected three hits on the afternoon and
Matthew Christian added two. Each of them are now hitting .455 on the year.
The series win was the first over Liberty since April 15-17, 2016. Campbell took two of three in Buies Creek that weekend as well.
With no mid-week game this week, Campbell's next action is set for Friday night at 5:00 p.m. against the Dayton Flyers. That series will again be streamed on ESPN+.
