ELON, N.C. – Forty-one games into the 2023 season, Campbell finally lost back-to-back contests.  One night after falling 4-2 to No. 20 Duke, the ninth-ranked Camels dropped a 6-5 decision Wednesday at Elon.
 
In a seesaw affair, Elon (25-15) rallied with a three-run eighth to hand Campbell (31-10) just its second loss in the last seven games.
 
Tanner Holliman's two-run homer tied the game at five.  After a walk and two hit batters, pinch-hitter Ryan Sprock walked with the bases full to lift the Phoenix over their future CAA rival at Latham Park.
 
Jarrod Belbin and Logan Jordan both homered for the Camels, who finished with 10 hits, but stranded nine base runners.  Campbell entered the contest as the nation's leading offense, averaging 10.2 runs, but Camel batters struck out 11 times.
 
Sam DiLella (1-0), the last of five Elon pitchers, worked two shutout innings and did not allow a hit, while striking out three to earn the win in relief.
 
Camel reliever Jeremy Wiegman (1-1) suffered the loss.
 
Belbin led off the game with his 14th home run of the season, but Willie Havens drew Elon level in the second with a two-out, RBI double.  Cole Reynolds then delivered a solo shot – his seventh homer of the season – to put the Phoenix ahead 2-1 in the third.
 
In Campbell's next at-bat, Jordan tied the game with his eighth home run of the year.
 
Elon went back in front in the fifth when Havens drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sac bunt, then scored after two wild pitches.
 
The Camels regained the advantage in the sixth after Chandler Riley delivered an RBI groundout, Dalen Thompson reached on an RBI infield hit, and Belbin produced a run-scoring single.
 
After a break for final exams, Campbell returns to action next Tuesday (May 2) in a 6 p.m. start at North Carolina.  The Camels and Elon meet again May 3 in Buies Creek before CU resumes Big South play May 5-7 at UNC Asheville.