BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell dropped the rubber match and the series to App State with a 5-4 defeat Sunday afternoon. App State improves to 2-1 with the win while Campbell falls to 1-2 after a weekend of play.
Campbell had a few opportunities to cash in, but ran into some outs on the bases that limited the potential rallies.
Lawson Harrill had a two-hit day and reached three times, while
Drake Pierson and
Jarrod Belbin contributed two hits each as well.
The Camels struggled to figure out the App State starter once again, this time it was the duo of Jason Cornatzer and Trey Tujetsch holding Campbell hitless through four innings.
App State struck first with a manufactured three-spot in the fifth that featured three base hits, two walks and a wild pitch. Campbell got on the board in the bottom of the frame with a RBI double from Pierson, but the Camels couldn't drive him in and the score stayed 3-1 through five innings.
Campbell broke through and took the lead with a three-run seventh inning that featured five straight singles to plate three runs with nobody out. An aggressive decision to send Belbin from third on a fly ball to right field was costly, as a good throw cut down Belbin at the plate for a double play and extinguished the threat.
The 4-3 lead did not last long, as Hunter Bryson lifted a two-run blast to left off
Cameron O'Brien in the top of the eighth to quickly retake the lead .
Campbell threatened again in the ninth with a pair of one-out singles and Denning and Neto due up, but Trey Jernigan picked up a pair of strikeouts to end the game and give the Mountaineers the series.
Aaron Rund got the start on the mound for Campbell and posted a line of 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 Ks.
Jake Murray and
Cade Anderson made their debuts on the bump for Campbell. Murray went 0.1 innings with a strikeout and one earned run. Anderson tossed the final 1.2 innings scoreless with three strikeouts.
Dylan Koontz got his first at-bat and picked up a base hit on first pitch he saw as part of that three-run seventh.
Campbell is back at Jim Perry Stadium Tuesday night against East Carolina. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
