FARMVILLE, Va. – Campbell piled up 15 runs in the first five innings and cruised to a series-clinching 15-1 Big South Conference baseball victory at Longwood on Saturday afternoon.
Five Camels logged multi-RBI outings, highlighted by left fielder Matthew Barefoot (Midway), who drove in three on a towering home run in the top of second. Infielder Tyler Anshaw also knocked three in with a two-run homer and an RBI single.
Senior second baseman Christian Jones connected on his Big South-leading 12th home run of the season to plate two runs, while Jeff Hahs added two RBIs on a double and a groundout. Bryce Myers drove one in on an infield hit before drawing a bases-loaded walk.
Campbell right-hander Michael Horrell (6-1) picked up the win as he tossed his fourth quality start of the season. The junior from Thomasville went seven complete innings with one run on three hits, retiring his final eight batters in order.
As a staff, Campbell pitchers held the Lancers scoreless over the final seven frames. Wyatt Tyson worked a quick 1-2-3 inning in the eighth before Jack Yusko closed it out, forcing a 6-3 double play and a groundout to end the game.
Campbell (22-17, 14-3 Big South) got the bats going early with three runs on three extra-base hits in the top of the first. Barefoot led the game off with a double to left field, followed by Hahs who laced an RBI double down the right field line. Two batters later, Jones launched the first pitch he saw over the left field wall for a 3-0 lead.
Barefoot kept the offense up with a three-run bomb in the top of second for a 6-0 lead.
Longwood (13-24, 6-11 Big South) scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly to deep center from Jawan McAllister. Grant Keller came home as the Lancers cut Campbell’s lead to 6-1.
The Camels took full control with a six-run at-bat in the top of the third to take a 12-1 advantage. Anshaw cranked a two-run homer. Myers followed with an RBI infield single before Luis Gimenez (0-for-2, RBI) drew a bases-loaded walk to give Campbell a 10-1 edge. Hahs picked up his second RBI of the day on a slow groundout to second, then Barefoot came home on a wild pitch to cap off the huge inning for the Camels.
Campbell plated three more in the top of the fifth, all coming with two outs. Anshaw lined a single through the middle to bring Jones home. Babin knocked his second hit of the game to center to score Minnick. With the bases loaded, Myers drew an RBI walk to put the Camels up 15-1.
With the win, Campbell clinches the series and secures the top spot on the Big South standings for another week. High Point sits second in the conference at 12-5, followed by Liberty, 11-6 in league play.
The Camels go for their fourth sweep in conference play Sunday (April 22) as the series finale is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
