Spartanburg, S.C. – Logan Heintzman turned in a stellar performance out of the bullpen and helped Campbell hang on for a 6-5 win over USC Upstate at Harley Park. The win flips the order at the top of the Big South standings, with the Camels now in first and Upstate in second.
With the win, Campbell improves to 28-14, 23-9 in the Big South while Upstate drops to 34-11, 25-10 in the league.
Heintzman entered with two on and one out in the sixth, and faced the minimum over a season-long outing of 3.2 innings to finish the game and earn the win. The only baserunner he allowed was a leadoff single in the ninth, and quickly retired him during the next at bat on a 5-4-3 double play. The redshirt senior finished with a line of 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Campbell got to Upstate starter Jordan Marks early. Marks entered the day with a 1.76 ERA, but was tagged with five runs, three earned through 6.0 innings. The five runs are the second-most he has surrendered in an outing this season.
The Camels got on the board with a first-inning solo home run from
Connor Denning, his 11
th of the year. Upstate nearly evened the score in the bottom of the frame, but a strong throw from
Grant Harris in right cut down a run at the plate to end the inning and kept the Spartans off the board.
Two more were tacked on in the second with a two-run squeeze play, as Upstate threw the ball away following a
Ty Babin bunt.
The Camels extended the lead to 5-1 on a
Spencer Packard two-run single in the fifth, but the Spartans answered in a big way in the bottom of the frame. Upstate chased Camel starter
Cade Kuehler in the inning and posted a four-spot to tie the game on three hits, two walks an error and wild pitch.
After Upstate turned to its bullpen in the seventh, two Camel singles and a HBP loaded the bases and a walk issued to
Waldy Arias plated the go-ahead and game winning run.
Pitching with a one-run lead, Heintzman retired the side in order in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to close the door on a 6-5 win without allowing the Spartans to ever threaten.
Kuehler worked 4.0 innings and allowed three runs during his start.
Ty Cummings tossed 1.1 between Kuehler and Heintzman allowed two runs.
Five Camels recorded a hit on the night with four of those notching multi-hit games.
Connor Denning led the way with three hits and finished a triple shy of the cycle.
Spencer Packard reached three times as well with two hits and a HBP.
The Camels and Spartans are back tomorrow for a doubleheader with sole possession of first place in the Big South still on the line. The day's first game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. with the series finale to follow. Each game will once again be streamed on ESPN+.
