BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell baseball conceded a four run ninth-inning rally to visiting North Carolina in a 7-3 defeat to the Tar Heels Tuesday night at Jim Perry Stadium.

1,403 fans were in attendance for the in-state matchup, the fourth-most at Jim Perry Stadium.

The No. 22 Camels (8-4) grabbed an early 1-0 lead thanks to a first inning home run off the bat of Lawson Harrill. The knock to right center was Harrill's fourth home run of the season.

Neither team would score until the fifth inning, when the No. 16 Tar Heels (11-2) scored three. Vance Honeycutt singled through the left side to score Jackson Van De Brake. The next batter, Casey Cook, doubled to center field to score Alex Madera and Honeycutt.

The Camels would answer with one run in the bottom of the frame. Grant Knipp started it off with a four-pitch walk, then Payton Howard laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Knipp to second. After Knipp moved to third on a ground out to second base, he would score on an infield single from Dalen Thompson.

Campbell would then tie the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the seventh inning. Knipp would once again get on base to lead off the inning, this time with a double to left center. Similarly to the fifth, Howard would move Knipp up one base with a sacrifice bunt. Harrill then scored Knipp with a sac fly to right field.

The Camels would hold Carolina scoreless in the eighth inning. Parks Harber would get on by way of a walk, then advanced to second on a wild pitch before Carter French replaced him as a pinch runner. Anthony Donofrio singled to center field, and French was waved home. A strong relay – Howard to Trenton Harris to Knipp, and French was called out at the plate.

The next two batters would walk to load the bases, and Drew Siegner was called out of the bullpen with two outs and the bases loaded. Siegner was up to the task, freezing Van De Brake on a called strike three on a 3-2 count.

Carolina was able to put the first three batters on base in the top of the ninth inning with a single and two bunt singles. Knipp moved from catcher to pitcher to replace Jackson Roberts. The first batter he faced smoked a single to right field that came off the bat at 105 mph. The Tar Heels would proceed to add three more runs to expand their lead, 7-3.

The Camels were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth inning with a foul out to third base, a fly out to right and a fly out to left.  

UP NEXT

Campbell stays at Jim Perry Stadium for a weekend series against visiting Bucknell. The first pitch on Friday will be at 6:00 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on FloSports.

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