BUIES CREEK – No. 9 Campbell dropped Tuesday night's game with Duke 4-2 at Jim Perry Stadium. The Camels left 12 on base on the night and hit just 1-10 with runners in scoring position.
 
The loss drops Campbell to 31-9, while Duke improves to 28-12.
 
Campbell opened the scoring with a two-run first thanks to a Logan Jordan two-out two-run double to right. But as it turned out, that was the only scoring for the Camels all evening.
 
Duke got on the board with a two-run double of its own from Tyler Albright in the fourth to even the score at 2-2.
 
The Camels had another scoring chance in the sixth with the bases loaded and two away, but Jarrod Belbin couldn't cash in and flew out to right to end the threat.
 
Duke quickly took advantage of the missed opportunity and took its first lead of the night on a solo shot by MJ Metz in the top of the seventh.
 
Campbell had nearly an identical chance in the eighth inning as the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs for Belbin, but this time Belbin went down on strikes after a nine-pitch at-bat and left Campbell trailing 3-2.
 
Duke added one insurance run in the ninth, but it wasn't need as Campbell couldn't get anything going in the final frame and fell 4-2.
 
Hunter Loyd turned in a strong start for the Camels, going 5.2 allowing just two runs and only one earned. He fanned six on the night before handing the ball of to Aaron Rund in the sixth. Rund was tagged with the loss, allowing two runs over 3.1 in relief while also striking out six.
 
Tyler Halstead was the only Camel with a pair of hits on the night, with five additional hits scattered throughout the lineup. Campbell stayed busy on the bases with five walks and four hit batters.
 
Duke's Owen Proksch earned the win as one of seven Blue Devil pitchers on the night.
 
The Fighting Camels are back in action tomorrow night at Elon. First pitch is at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on FloSports.