BUIES CREEK — Christian Jones drove in a career-high tying four RBIs as the Camels posted their highest run total of the season, defeating Pepperdine 15-2 in baseball on a rainy Wednesday evening at Jim Perry Stadium.
Redshirt senior Allan Winans (1-1) earned the win, pitching six scoreless innings with two hits, one walk and a career-high seven strikeouts for the Camels.
Cooper Chandler (0-2) took the loss, allowing eight runs over one and two-thirds innings.
Jones (3-for-4) was one of three Campbell batters with three hits, as Luis Gimenez (3-for-5, 2 RBIs) and Joe Zirolli (3-for-5, 1 RBI) collected three singles apiece. Third baseman Tyler Anshaw (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) logged his second multi-hit game of the season with a single and a double.
Pepperdine (3-6) tallied just two hits, as Chase Lambert (1-for-1) and Billy Cook (1-for-3) each finished with a single. The Waves were held hitless over the final four frames.
The Camels scored eight runs in the bottom of the second, all coming with two outs on the board. Gimenez got Campbell started with a 2-run single, followed by Matthew Barefoot who drove one in on a fielder’s choice and Anshaw who brought two runners home with a double down the left field line. Kevin Barron drew a walk to claim CU’s sixth RBI of the inning, then Jones knocked a single to right center to score Ty Babin and Zirolli. CU sent 14 batters to the plate in its highest-scoring inning of the season.
Campbell (3-5) drew a season-high 12 walks, led by Barron who tied a school record with four. Four Camels were hit by pitches as CU posted a .569 on-base percentage in the win.
Up next, the Camels will gear up for a weekend that features two home matchups and the first road contest of the season. CU will host Canisius College on Friday, March 2, before traveling to N.C. State on Saturday, March 3. Campbell will close the weekend in Buies Creek against Bowling Green on Sunday, March 4.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)