BUIES CREEK, N.C. — The Fighting Camels pulled away in the seventh inning, scoring four runs, all with two outs, to earn a 6-3 series-clinching victory over UNC Asheville Sunday afternoon at Jim Perry Stadium.
Rookie lefty Ryan Chasse (4-1) produced his second quality start of the year, giving up just one earned run over 7.0 innings of work The Apex, N.C. native struck out a career-best eight batters, while allowing just one walk.
After a solo home run in the third, Chasse settled in and retired the final 14 batters he faced, sitting the Bulldogs down in order in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Campbell reliever Landry Moore came in and pitched the eighth, tossing a hitless and scoreless frame. He did allow a two-run home run in the top of the ninth, but dealt two swinging strikeouts and a flyout to end the game. The Barton College transfer struck out three across his 2.0 innings, moving his season strikeout mark to 15, which is the most among Camel relievers.
UNC Asheville’s starter Greg Gasparro (1-4) suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits across his 6.2 innings.
Redshirt-junior Matthew Barefoot (3-for-4, HR, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R) drove in three runs and finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle. The Dunn, N.C. native singled in the first, cranked a solo shot in the third and later tripled in the seventh for his second three-hit performance of the season. Barefoot’s three-bagger moved his season total to three, which is tied for the conference lead.
Koby Collins (2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R) also logged a multi-hit outing, which featured a solo bomb for his first home run of the 2019 campaign. He led off Campbell’s go-ahead fifth inning with a stand-up double.
Both Tyler Anshaw (1-for-3) and Zach Minnick (1-for-2, R) recorded a base hit, rounding out Campbell’s seven hits in the win. AJ Hrica (0-for-1, RBI, R) and Spencer Packard (0-for-2, RBI) drove in one run apiece on a sacrifice fly and bases-loaded walk, respectively.
The Camels picked up where they left off from yesterday’s offensive onslaught as Barefoot singled through the right side and Anshaw reached on a bunt single to get the first inning started. However, unlike yesterday, the Camels were unable to scratch a run across as a double play and fielder’s choice ended the frame.
Asheville threatened to score in the second after its first two batters reached and then advanced into scoring position on a sac bunt with one out. Chasse fanned a batter and then sat one down on a called strike to leave the two runners stranded.
The Bulldogs and Camels traded solo home runs in the third. Asheville’s Dominic Freeberger hit a homer that just got out over Barefoot’s outstretched glove in left field. In the home half of the inning, Barefoot launched a first-pitch changeup way beyond the left-field fence for his fourth long ball of the year.
Campbell went ahead by one in the fifth, 2-1. Collins doubled down the right-field line to lead off the inning and scored just two pitches later as Minnick moved him over to third with a sac bunt, and then Hrica scored him on a sac fly into leftfield.
Campbell pulled away in the seventh, scoring four runs, all with two outs, to go ahead 6-1. Collins launched a two-out solo home run down the left-field line for his first dinger as a Fighting Camel before Minnick and Hrica kept the inning going by drawing consecutive walks.
Barefoot smacked a two-out, two-RBI triple into left-center field to score Minnick and Hrica before Packard drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk to tack on CU’s sixth run of the ballgame.
Up next, Campbell travels to Chapel Hill, N.C. to face the nationally ranked North Carolina Tar Heels on Tuesday, March 26. First pitch at Boshamer Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
