Camels take series with Asheville

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | Mar 25, 2019 | Campbell, News & Features

Koby Collins connects for a fifth-inning double for the Camels.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

BUIES CREEK — Campbell pulled away in the seventh inning, scoring four runs, all with two outs, to earn a 6-3 series-clinching Big South Conference baseball victory over UNC Asheville on Sunday afternoon at Jim Perry Stadium.

CU improved to 14-9 overall and 5-1 in league play.

Lefty Ryan Chasse (4-1) produced his second quality start of the year, giving up just one earned run over seven innings of work The Apex 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 had two swinging strikeouts and a flyout to end the game. The Barton College transfer struck out three in two 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 in six and two-thirds innings.

Matthew Barefoot (Midway) drove in three runs and finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Barefoot 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 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 and Zach Minnick recorded a base hit, rounding out Campbell’s seven hits in the win. A.J. Hrica and Spencer Packard drove in one run apiece on a sacrifice fly and bases-loaded walk, respectively.

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 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 sacrifice bunt. Hrica scored him on a sacrifice fly to left field.

Up next, Campbell travels to face nationally-ranked North Carolina on Tuesday, March 26. First pitch at Boshamer Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)