BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell could not break out of a six-run deficit, falling to Charlotte 6-5 Tuesday night at Jim Perry Stadium.
 
The 49ers (26-18) scored three runs in each of the first two innings and were able to fight off the Camels' (18-25) comeback attempt, led by Joe Simpson and Charlie Meglio.
 
Simpson and Meglio each had two home runs. Simpson's were both solo shots, and Meglio had a two-run shot and a solo shot to combine for all five RBI for CU.
 
After starter Jett Music walked two of the first four batters he faced in the first frame, Dawson Bryce hit a two-out three-run homer to open the scoring.
 
Music, who moved to 1-2 after the loss, allowed a single and a walk to start the second inning before he was replaced by Ethan Snyder. Snyder walked his first batter, then gave up a two RBI single to Connor Maryniak.
 
David Rossow, Drew Siegner, Nick Biasi and Bryce Schares combined to pitch the rest of the game. They allowed five hits and four walks over the final seven frames to go along with nine strikeouts.
 
Cody Gunderson followed with an RBI fielder's choice to the third baseman for what would be the final run of the game for Charlotte. Four of the six runs on the day initially reached base by way of a walk, and three of those walks were on a 3-2 count.
 
Adam Stanton started for the Niners and pitched 2.2 innings. Simpson's first homer of the game came on the first pitch of the home half of the third. A double, HBP and walk loaded the bases with two outs before Stanton was replaced by Trey Baker.
 
Baker's first batter was Jonah Oster, who made his return to the Campbell lineup after missing multiple weeks with a hand injury. He launched a long fly ball to left field that was caught on the warning track for the final out of the frame, leaving the bases loaded.
 
Baker went on to pitch 1.1 innings, allowing Meglio's first homer in the bottom of the fifth inning. The long ball also scored Joey Morton, who led off the frame with a walk. Baker was replaced by AJ Camp, who pitched 2.0 innings and earned the win, moving his record to 4-0.
 
Simpson once again led off an inning with a home run, this time the sixth. After the next two batters recorded outs, Meglio launched his 1-0 pitch 106 mph and 415 feet over the wall in left.
 
The 49ers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, but Biasi came in and recorded a strikeout and a flyout to center to prevent any damage. CU went three-up three-down in the bottom of the frame, then neither team had a baserunner pass second base in the final two frames.
 
Chase Carson entered the game to start the bottom of the seventh for Charlotte, He pitched the final three innings, earning his second save of the season. He allowed only one walk and no hits with five strikeouts to quiet the comeback-minded Camels.
 
UP NEXT
Campbell is back on the road for a CAA series against N.C. A&T, Friday-Sunday. All three games will be streamed live on FloCollege.
 
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