Buies Creek – Campbell opens its 2016 campaign this Friday, Feb. 19, hosting Miami (Ohio) at 3 p.m. at Jim Perry Stadium.
The Camels will host the RedHawks in a three game series, with Saturday’s tilt beginning at 3 p.m. and Sunday’s finale featuring a 2 p.m. start.
Live audio coverage, as well as live stats for all three games will be available at GoCamels.com.
Campbell finished the 2015 season 32-25 overall, securing its fourth-straight 30-win campaign, the first under head coach Justin Haire.
Cole Hallum was named the Big South Player of the Year, and four Camels were also named Second Team All-Big South, including Heath Bowers (starting pitcher), Cedric Mullins (outfield) and Steven Leonard (catcher), as well as Matt Parrish (designated hitter).
Hallum was tabbed Third Team Louisville Slugger All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, marking the sixth time in four years that a Camel has gained All-America status. Parrish also picked up CoSIDA Academic All-America status for the second straight year
Over the last four seasons, the Camels own 163 wins, averaging nearly 41 per year, with eight All-America selections, four Academic All-Americans, nine professional contracts, including a record three MLB Draft picks in 2015, 25 all-conference picks, as well as an outstanding 3.02 team GPA.
The Camels return 14 letterwinners from last season’s squad, including four starting position players and two arms in the weekend rotation.
Hallum, a 2016 Louisville Slugger Pre-Season All-American, hit .327 with 12 home runs, eight doubles and 48 RBI, scoring 31 runs in 2015. As the Camels’ closer on the mound, the junior added a 1-1 record with a 1.04 ERA and nine saves. He was named to the initial watch list for the 12th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award this week.
Parrish, who hit .301 as a junior, as well as redshirt senior outfielder Brian Taylor (.276, 14 doubles) also return to the Campbell lineup.
Senior right-hander Nick Thayer will anchor the weekend rotation, going 7-5 last season with a 2.58 and 61 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings. Grant Yost, another senior righty, also returns, fashioning a 3-6 record with a 4.65 ERA in 2015.
Miami went 13-39 last season, and are picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference East division in 2016.
Redshirt junior infielder Adam Yacek headlines the RedHawks’ returning core, hitting .337 with six home runs and 27 RBI a season ago. Junior right-hander Brad Schwartz went 0-1 on the mound with a 4.44 ERA in 23 games last season, tossing 46 2/3 innings.
The Camels topped Miami 7-2 last season in the Fighting Camel Classic in Buies Creek.
Campbell heads to Duke on Tuesday, Feb. 23, for its first road test. The Camels return home for the weekend, hosting Minnesota.
