BUIES CREEK — Allan Winans tossed a complete game and held High Point hitless over the final eight innings as the Fighting Camels defeated the Panthers 4-2 in a Big South Conference baseball game Friday night at Jim Perry Stadium.
The redshirt senior from Bakersfield, Calif., tied his career-high with 12 strikeouts, allowing just two walks, two hits and two runs. Winans, who entered the game leading the Big South in earned run average, lowered his ERA to a 2.57 while improving his record to 5-4.
The complete game was the first for Campbell since April 1, 2017, when Alex Yarem went the route in a 6-0 victory over Charleston Southern.
High Point starter Andrew Gottfried (4-5) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits through four innings of work.
Luis Gimenez notched two infield singles as the Barquisimeto, Venezuela, native logged his 10th multi-hit performance as a Camel. Tyler Anshaw, Jeff Hahs and Christian Jones drove in one run apiece to help lead Campbell to a series-opening victory.
High Point (23-19, 12-7 Big South) took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, as Daniel Millwee posted a sacrifice fly to deep left field before Carson Jackson drove in a run on a single up the middle.
Campbell (25-18, 16-3 Big South) cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the first. Outfielder Matthew Barefoot led the Camels off with an infield hit to third base, stole second, then advanced to third and home on two passed balls.
After a shaky start in the first, Winans shut the Panthers down and allowed just three base runners for the remainder of the game. The right-hander retired the side in order five times, fanning the side once.
The Camels used a three-run bottom of the fifth to take a lead that they would not relinquish. With the bases loaded, Anshaw dragged a bunt single down the third-base line to score Gimenez. Hahs was struck by a pitch to bring Kyle Mehl home. Jones laid down a suicide squeeze that scored Bryce Myers to put the Camels up 4-2.
Campbell has won nine of its last 11 contests and owns a seven-game winning streak in conference play. With all of Friday’s matchups wrapped up, the Camels currently hold a three-game lead over Winthrop (21-23, 13-6 Big South) in the conference standings.
CU goes for its sixth Big South series win Saturday with the first pitch slated for 6 p.m. at Jim Perry Stadium.
(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)
