BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell opened CAA play with a 3-2 victory over defending champion UNCW Friday night at Jim Perry Stadium. Dalen Thompson had a two-run home run, and Jake Murray threw 12 strikeouts in six innings of work to lead the way.
 
Murray's record now sits at 2-2 after his strong performance on the mound. He outdueled Seahawk ace Zane Taylor, who recorded his first loss of the season and now sits at 5-1.
 
The Camels improved to 9-12 and 1-0 in league play, while the Seahawks moved to 11-11, 0-1.
 
CU scored all three of their runs in the third inning with three extra base hits. With one out, Jett Music doubled to the gap in left center field. On a 1-0 count, Darnell Parker Jr. sent a double to almost the exact same spot to score Music.
 
On the first pitch of the next at-bat, Thompson hit a ball 107 mph over the wall in left field for his first home run of the season.
 
Music, Parker Jr. and Thompson all had two hits to lead the team. Charlie Meglio recorded the only other hit for CU, an infield pop-up that fell to the turf for a double.
 
UNCW's Taylor was relieved to start the fifth inning by Bromley Thornton. He allowed just three hits and no runs across his three innings of work. Bryan Arendt moved from catcher to pitcher, throwing one strikeout and allowing no hits in the eighth for CU.
 
Murray recorded 12 strikeouts in his six innings of work to go along with just two hits and no runs. Two innings stood out for the lefty, the fourth and the sixth. In the fourth frame, Murray struck out the side in order, all looking strikeouts.
 
The two hits Murray allowed both came in the sixth inning, and UNCW loaded the bases with no outs. Murray went on to strike out the subsequent three batters, recording his 12^th strikeout of the night with his 100^th pitch.
 
Music moved from left field to the mound and pitched the seventh and eighth innings for the Camels. He had three strikeouts but gave up UNCW's two runs in the top of the eighth inning.
 
The runs came when Trevor Lucas worked an eight-pitch walk with one out. After the next batter fouled out to right, Alec DeMartino launched the first pitch of his at-bat over the left field wall for a two-run homer. Music went on to finish the inning by striking out pinch-hitter Carver Pleasant.
 
Bryce Schares pitched the final inning for Campbell, earning his second save of the season. After allowing a one-out walk, Schares struck out the final two batters to clinch the series-opening win.
 
The three Campbell pitchers combined to throw 17 strikeouts and allow just three hits. They walked five, and Murray hit two UNCW batters.
 
UNCW's pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts, seven hits, three walks and one hit batter.
 
UP NEXT
The Camels and Seahawks are back at Jim Perry Stadium for game two of the series tomorrow at 3:00. The action will be broadcast on FloCollege.
 
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