BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Campbell offense stayed red-hot to lift Campbell to a 17-2 series opening win over USC Upstate Friday night at Jim Perry Stadium. Four Camels tallied multi-hit games while two drove in four runs to pace the attack.
The win moves Campbell to 16-12, 6-1 in league play, while USC Upstate drops to 18-12, 7-3 in the Big South.
The 17 runs and 15 hits are both good for second-most on the year, trailing the marks set during the 36-run outburst against Presbyterian on Mar. 27.
Tyler Halstead was the highlight of the night at the plate. Hitting out of the 9-hole in the order, the redshirt-junior went 4-4 with two home runs and four RBI. The two home runs were the first two of his Campbell career, along with recording his first multi-hit game as a Camel.
Campbell jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the second inning with three highlight plays: a squeeze bunt, a passed ball allowing a run to score from second base, and the first of Halstead's home runs.
After each team traded runs in the third, Campbell blew the game wide open with a 10-run fifth inning that saw the first eight batters reach safely. The biggest blow of the inning came courtesy of a
Connor Denning 430' three-run blast with two outs. In total, the ten runs were scored on eight hits by eight different players.
That was plenty of insurance for Harrington (7-1), who cruised to his nation's best seventh win of the season. The sophomore turned in a line of 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 Ks, and now has eight quality starts in eight tries.
Cameron O'Brien picked up the first save of his career tossing the final three innings scoreless and striking out three while facing the minimum.
Connor Denning also had a huge day at the plate, going 3-3 with four RBI and three runs scored.
Drake Pierson and
Ty Babin each logged two-hit games while Babin drove in four.
Upstate's Jacob Curry was tagged with the loss, going 4.0 innings and allowing 11 runs, 10 earned in his start.
Campbell will look to take the series tomorrow when these teams square off at 3 p.m.
Cade Kuehler is expected to get the start for the Camels.
