BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell's offense came alive to defeat UNCW 17-9 and clinch the CAA opening series Saturday afternoon at Jim Perry Stadium. 17 runs are a season-high for the Camels, who clinched their third series win of the season.
 
The Camels (10-12, 2-0 CAA) recorded 16 hits on the day, their highest total of the season, and scored 13 of their runs with two outs. UNCW (11-12, 0-2) had 13 hits of its own but left 11 on base throughout the contest.
 
Jonah Oster led the Camels with four hits and four RBI. Joey Morton had three hits and five RBI. Andrew Schuldt had two RBI with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
 
Morton and Charlie Meglio also knocked in back-to-back home runs in the fifth for the third long ball of the year for each player.
 
Lleyton Grubich earned the win for Campbell by pitching 3.2 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed four hits and one run, moving his record to 1-1 on the year. Jack Gibson was credited with the loss for UNCW, and he now sits at 0-2.
 
The scoring began early with five total runs in the first inning. UNCW attacked CU starter Mason Smith quickly, recording four singles in the frame. After RBI hits from Martin Zelenka and Alec DeMartino, the third run came around to score on a balk.
 
The Camels answered with two runs of their own in the opening frame off a two-RBI single from Oster after Darnell Parker Jr. reached on an error and Dalen Thompson doubled down the right field line.
 
The Seahawks added to their lead with a bases loaded RBI groundout from Tanner Thach. The CAA Preseason Player of the Year was kept in check for the second straight game, going 0-6 with one strikeout and the one RBI.
 
The Fighting Camels took the lead in the bottom of the second with their first of three four-spots in the contest. The team loaded the bases with two outs when Oster was hit by a pitch to score Jackson Thompson.
 
The runners advanced and Jett Music scored on a wild pitch before Schuldt worked a walk to load the bases yet again. Morton came through with his first two RBI with a single to center field, putting the Camels up 6-4.
 
Cooper Allen came out to replace Seahawk starter Connor Marshburn after Morton's hit, as the starter went just 1.2 innings with two strikeouts, three walks, four hits and six runs (five earned).
 
UNCW tied the game with one run in the third and one in the fourth, a solo home run from Cole Nelson and an unearned run from Kevin Jones, who came around to score on a throwing error from the Campbell infield.
 
CU took the lead for good with another four runs in the bottom of the fourth, again all with two outs. The first two batters in the frame recorded outs, followed by five consecutive hits. Oster started with a single up the middle, then Schuldt's home run over the wall in left center brought both around.
 
Singles from Morton, Meglio and Lukas Schramm brought another one before J. Thompson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Meglio scored on the second wild pitch of the game before a fly out from Music ended the inning.
 
UNCW kept the pressure on with two runs in the fifth to keep it close. Bromley Thornton knocked a two RBI single up the middle to make the score 10-8 in favor of Campbell at the halfway mark.
 
Evans Hendricks was first out of the bullpen for Campbell, replacing Smith with one out in the fourth inning. He recorded the final two outs of the fourth and was responsible for both runners that scored in the fifth before he was replaced by Grubich.
 
CU put the game out of reach for good with their final four-spot, this one also with two outs in the fifth inning. The first two batters recorded outs yet again before back-to-back infield singles from Oster and Schuldt.
 
Morton and Meglio followed with the back-to-back home runs. Morton's was a three-run shot on a 3-1 count to right field, and Meglio sent his 3-2 pitch over the wall in left.
 
Both teams went three up three down in the sixth before an RBI single from Jones brought home UNCW's final run of the day.
 
Campbell's final three runs came in the eighth inning. Parker Jr. was hit by the first pitch of his at-bat with the bases loaded and no outs. The second run came around to score on a double play, and Oster's final RBI of the day followed, as he laced a single through the left side of the infield.
 
Ethan Snyder relieved Grubich on the mound, and he pitched the final 1.1 innings for Campbell. He recorded just one hit and two strikeouts, including striking out Thach to end the game.
 
Mason Murdock, Porter Braddy and Connor Kane followed Gibson out of the pen for UNCW. The Seahawks used six pitchers, and none went longer than 2.0 innings.
 
UP NEXT
The series concludes between the Camels and Seahawks tomorrow at 2:00 from Jim Perry Stadium. The action will be broadcast on FloCollege.
 
Follow the Camels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for up-to-date information and content throughout the year.