BUIES CREEK, N.C. – A ninth inning walk-off home run from Chandler Riley lifted the Campbell Fighting Camels over Valparaiso, 10-9, Friday night at Jim Perry Stadium.

It's the second walk-off hit for the Camels (13-4) this season, but it's the first walk-off to clear the fence since Bryce Arnold did so in March 2022.

Valparaiso (7-9) started the game with two runs in the first inning with an RBI single and an RBI groundout.

Grant Knipp connected on the second pitch of the bottom of the first and hit the longest home run this season for the Camels, 469 feet to left field.

Valpo added two more in the second off a wild pitch and an RBI double. The Beacons would add to their lead in the third with another RBI double to make it a 5-1 game.

Jeremy Wiegman came on in relief in the middle of the fourth inning, and he pitched 2.2 scoreless innings for Campbell to keep the Beacons to five runs.

The Camels scored one more in the fourth with a sacrifice fly from Charlie Meglio.

In the sixth inning, Dylan Koontz hit his first home run of the season, a straight-away shot to center field. The scoring continued with a two-run RBI single from Knipp to tie the game, 5-5.

The seventh inning saw each team score four runs. The Beacons walked in two runs and had two RBI singles. Valpo would have scored one more, but Dalen Thompson threw out a runner at the plate from left field to limit the first RBI single to only one run.

In the bottom half of the frame, Koontz laced an RBI double down the right field line to score Thompson. Peyton Bonds followed that up with a single to center field, and he advanced to third and Koontz scored off an error by the centerfielder.

Meglio kept the line moving with an RBI double to left to score Bonds. Riley was right behind him with an RBI single through the right side to score Meglio, and the game was tied once again at nine apiece.

Drew Siegner came in with one out in the seventh and the bases loaded. He would then go on to pitch scoreless eighth and ninth innings, allowing only two baserunners in those final two innings. He earned his second win on the season with his performance tonight.

The Camels loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but were unable to bring a run across after a failed squeeze play and a pop out to the first baseman.

Siegner held Valpo scoreless in the top of the ninth, and the Camels had the seven, eight and nine-hole hitters up to bat. After the first two recorded outs, Riley came to the plate. He worked a full count and sent the seventh pitch of the at-bat over the wall in right center 402 feet to clinch the Camel victory.

UP NEXT

The Camels and Beacons are back at it again tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Jim Perry Stadium. It is JPS Fest at the park, with yard games, face painting, cotton candy, and more.

Follow the Camels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for up-to-date information and content throughout the year.