Buies Creek – Ohio State rallied for two runs in the eighth, slipping past Campbell 7-6 Sunday in the three game series finale at Jim Perry Stadium.
Facing a 5-5 game heading into the eighth, the Buckeyes (5-6) loaded the bases with none out. Tre’ Gantt’s sacrifice fly gave OSU its first run of the frame, followed by a Jalen Washington RBI single to make it 7-5.
Campbell (5-5) cut the Ohio State lead to 7-6 with a one out solo homer to left-center from Matthew Barefoot, the first of the redshirt freshman’s collegiate career.
Yianni Pavlopoulos retired CU in order in the ninth to seal the series win for the Buckeyes.
Seth Kinker (1-0) earned the win for OSU, working two innings in relief with a run on three hits, adding three strikeouts. Pavlopoulos picked up the save, his first of the season.
Harry Thomas (0-2) was charged with the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with three walks. Campbell starter Ryan Kirk allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits with two punchouts and three walks. Cole Hallum also tossed two scoreless frames in relief.
Gantt paced Ohio State on the day, going 2-for-3 with two RBI while Jacob Barnwell recorded a 3-for-4 day with a RBI and two runs.
Barefoot collected his second-straight three-hit outing, going 3-for-4 with the eighth inning home run. Christian Jones drove in a season-best four runs, going 1-for-4 at the plate. Jones’ two out, full count, bases clearing double in the sixth tied the game at 5-all. Jones also pushed across the Camels’ first run with a RBI groundout in the second.
After putting up five runs in the first on Saturday, the Buckeyes again started hot, plating four runs in the top of the second on Sunday. OSU used just two hits in the inning, aided by two passed balls and a wild pitch.
The Camels claimed Friday’s opener 7-2 before the Buckeyes evened the weekend with a 7-1 victory Saturday.
Next up for Campbell will be its first road test of the season, heading to Georgia Southern for a two game midweek set March 7-8. The Camels return home on Friday, March 10, beginning a three game series with Evansville. Photo by Bennett Scarborough
