WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Campbell came away with a 5-4 win over William & Mary in their series opener Friday night at Plumeri Park, shutting out the Tribe over the final three innings to secure the victory.
 
The Fighting Camels (16-21, 7-6 CAA) scored two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take the lead, then stranded six Tribe (13-24, 7-6) baserunners over the final three frames.  
 
Peyton Brown opened the weekend on the mound for the second consecutive week for Campbell. His night ended after 5.2 innings. He had five strikeouts to go with six hits and four runs, but his book closed with the Camels still in the lead.
 
Brown earned the win for Campbell and saw his record move to 2-2. Jack Weight threw 3.0 innings in the start for W&M, and Tom Bourque (0-2) was credited with the loss. The Tribe used six pitchers compared to just three for CU.
 
Ben Parker, the CAA leader in hits, led off the home half of the first with a solo home run to right for the first run of the game. Brown retired three of the next four batters to get out of the inning without any more damage. The long ball was the first one Brown has given up as a Campbell pitcher.
 
Freshman Andrew Keller tied the game in the third inning with his first career home run. He sent the ball 395 feet over the wall in right field to even it up at 1-1. The Camels loaded the bases with two outs thanks to an error, but the Tribe forced a flyout to end the frame.
 
The Camels took the lead in the top of the fifth inning with two runs. A walk, bunt single and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with no outs and forced W&M to the bullpen and Tom Bourque. His first pitch sailed to the backstop, allowing Joe Simpson to score from third.
 
Another walk loaded the bases, and with one out, Joey Morton hit a ground ball to the second baseman. He bobbled the ball before getting the out at second, and no throw went to first for the potential double play, allowing Darnell Parker Jr. to score on the play.
 
Brown continued his strong outing on the mound in the bottom of the fifth, needing just seven pitches to get through the frame.
 
CU added to their lead with another two runs in the sixth. Jett Music led off the inning with a HBP and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a ground ball to the first baseman.
 
With two outs, Simpson blooped a single over the head of the shortstop to bring Music home. Parker Jr. singled to right field, advancing Simpson to third. Dalen Thompson followed that up with a single to center field, scoring Simpson.
 
The Tribe cut into the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Two RBI singles from Charlie Iriotakis and Parker, in addition to a wild pitch, brought the runs across. Zach Sabers entered for Brown with two outs and allowed the Parker RBI before forcing a fielder's choice ground ball from Lucas Carmichael.
 
Campbell loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh but was unable to bring any runs across. Tyler Kelly came out of the bullpen and recorded two strikeouts surrounding a fielder's choice to the third baseman who made the out at home.
 
Sabers responded with two shutout innings in the seventh and eighth. The Tribe had runners on the corners with one out in the eighth, but Sabers forced an infield popup and a flyout to center get out of trouble.
 
Bryce Schares entered the game in the ninth inning. He got two quick outs before William & Mary loaded the bases with a single, double and intentional walk. Schares then forced a weak popup to the shortstop to clinch his fourth save of the season.
 
UP NEXT
The teams are back at it on Saturday from Plumeri Park, beginning at 3:00 on FloCollege.
 
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