DURHAM — Campbell juniors Zach Minnick and Tyler Anshaw cranked back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth inning as the Camels downed the N.C. Central Eagles 3-1 on Tuesday night at the Durham Athletic Park.
With the victory, coach Justin Haire notched his 100th win at the helm of the Campbell baseball program. He joins Greg Goff (2008-14, 224 wins), Chip Smith (1996-2006, 267 wins) and Cal Koonce (1980-86, 174 wins) as the only coaches in program history to reach triple-digit wins with the Camels.
Right-hander Wyatt Tyson (2-1) was credited with the win, tossing one-third of an inning as one of 10 relievers to appear for CU. The sophomore from Red Lion, Pa., ended the NCCU third with a strikeout before Campbell took the lead for good in the fourth.
Campbell junior Tyson Messer (Harnett Central) picked up his fifth save of the season, pitching a clean bottom of the ninth with two strikeouts and no hits allowed.
The Camels logged eight hits on the night, led by outfielder Jeff Hahs who knocked two singles in the win. Minnick and Anshaw each drove in a run, while Christian Jones tallied his Big South-leading 35th RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly.
Campbell (17-16) got on the board first, as Jones drove Matthew Barefoot in on a sacrifice fly to left field in the top of the first. Barefoot roped a leadoff double before Luis Gimenez and Hahs were each hit by pitches to advance Barefoot to third base.
N.C. Central (20-15) evened the score with a solo home run in the bottom of the second, as Andrew Valichka ripped a ball over the right field wall.
The Camels retook the lead in the top of the fourth, as Minnick and Anshaw hit back-to-back solo home runs over the right field fence. It was the second time this season that Campbell teammates homered consecutively, as Jones and Minnick went back-to-back at N.C. State on Saturday, March 3.
A total of 10 Campbell relievers took the mound Tuesday night, combining for seven scoreless innings to seal the victory. Senior Harry Thomas led the group with four strikeouts over two innings, while Logan Bender, Logan Heintzman and Messer each fired two whiffs over an inning in their respective outings.
Up next, Campbell will travel to Clinton, S.C. for a three-game Big South Conference series at Presbyterian, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, April 13-15, at the PC Baseball Complex.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
