CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Fighting Camels suffered their first loss since March 26 in a 7-4 defeat at North Carolina Tuesday night. The loss snaps a 12-game winning streak, and is the first game in the last nine that Campbell did not score double digit runs.
The loss drops Campbell to 22-13, while UNC advances to 23-14 with the win.
Campbell had just six hits on the night, but was walked nine times to stay busy on the basepaths. Despite the baserunners, Campbell went just 1-15 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.
North Carolina got on the board in the first inning after Kuehler issued two walks and HBP to load the bases to set up a two-run single. He bounced back and limited the damage by leaving them loaded two batters later.
The sophomore was locked in through the next three innings, retiring 12 straight and fanning eight of those during the stretch, but two more walks led to another run in the fifth.
Drake Pierson worked hard to put the Camels on the board in the second inning. The latest Big South Player of the Week doubled to lead off the frame before stealing third and scoring on an errant throw down from the catcher.
Lawson Harrill drove in a run in his first game back from injury with a two-out, two-strike RBI double in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2.
Carolina broke the game open with three in the sixth against
Ty Cummings on an RBI single and RBI fielder's choice to take a 6-2 lead at the time, a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Campbell's only other two runs came on a Tar Heel miscue in the seventh, when
Logan Jordan dropped a sac bunt that was thrown away by the pitcher and allowed a pair to score.
The four runs on the night are Campbell's fewest since April 1, when the Camels scored four in a 4-1 win at Gardner-Webb, and the six hits are the fewest since March 22. Six Camels had one hit apiece, with Harrill responsible for the team's only RBI.
Kuehler's (1-5) start was marred by walks as he was tagged with the loss, but still finished with a strong line of 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 8 K. Cummings allowed four across 1.1 innings of work, while Chasse worked the final 1.2 innings scoreless and hitless.
The Tar Heels used six pitchers on the night with Matt Bovair (3-3) getting the win for his two innings of relief.
The Camels return home this Friday to face Longwood at 6 p.m. The Lancers are currently in third place in the Big South.
