Richmond, VA – Michigan State struck out Campbell 19 times, including 10 from starter Alex Troop, taking a 3-1 win in the opening game of the Richmond Spider Invitational at Pitt Field.
Michigan State moved to 10-4 on the season with the win, while Campbell dropped to 7-11.
Troop (3-1) fanned 10 Camels in five innings, and Jake Lowery struck out eight in three innings of relief. Riley McCauley also struck out his only batter to close the game.
Troop picked up the win, allowing a run on six hits with a walk. Lowery allowed two hits in three scoreless innings. McCauley earned the one out save, his fifth of the season. Joe Mockbee also tossed 2/3 of an inning.
Allan Winans (2-2) took the loss for Campbell, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in five innings. Wes Noble worked four scoreless innings, allowing a hit with three strikeouts and a walk.
In a scoreless game, the Spartans broke through in the fourth with a two out rally. Brandon Hughes reached on a bunt single and Chad Roskelly reached on a fielder’s choice, putting two on for Royce Ando, who doubled, scoring two. A pair of Campbell errors led to another MSU run in the fifth, putting the Spartans up 3-0.
Kyle Mehl put Campbell on the board in the sixth with a two out double, scoring Jeff Hahs, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
Hughes went 2-for-3 with a run for the Spartans, while Ando knocked in two, going 1-for-4.
Drew Butler and Matthew Barefoot both notched 2-for-4 days to lead the Camels. Campbell stranded nine in the loss, leaving the bases loaded in the third.
The Camels continue Spider Invitational play against Cornell at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Campbell will square off with a host Richmond on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Next up for the Camels will be a Tuesday, March 21 trip to North Carolina State. Campbell begins Big South play at Gardner-Webb on March 24.
