Local crew helps CU past No. 5 Pack

by Dunn Area Sports Staff | May 3, 2018 | Campbell, News & Features

Matthew Barefoot, who led Midway to the NCHSAA 2-A baseball championship in 2014, watches the flight of his game-winning home run at N.C. State on Wednesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

RALEIGH — Redshirt-sophomore outfielder Matthew Barefoot launched a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the ninth inning as Campbell upset No. 5 NC State 5-4 Wednesday night at Doak Field at Dail Park.

Facing a full count against Wolfpack reliever Joe O’Donnell, Barefoot, who starred at Midway in high school, lifted a hanging slider over the left field wall to put CU up 5-4. It was his fourth homer of the season.

Wednesday’s victory over State was Campbell’s first win over a ranked opponent since May 15, 2015, when the Camels defeated No. 25 Coastal Carolina, 5-2. It also marked the first time State lost a midweek game this season.

Senior right-hander Harry Thomas (3-0) was credited with the win, as the Washington, D.C., native recorded the third out in the bottom of the eighth with a swinging strikeout. Campbell closer Tyson Messer (Harnett Central) held the Wolfpack off the board in a bases-loaded situation in the ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season.

Logan Bender (Triton) pitched the seventh inning for the Camels and lowered his earned run average to 1.45.

O’Donnell (0-2) took the loss. Barefoot’s go-ahead bomb was just the second run allowed this season by the Wolfpack reliever.

Redshirt senior outfielder Bryce Myers logged his eighth multi-hit outing of the season, collecting two singles for the Camels. Tyler Anshaw had a two-run single, while Jeff Hahs and Luis Gimenez each added hits for the Camels.

Senior righty Wes Noble went five and two-thirds innings as the Campbell starter, allowing one earned run on five hits with three punchouts in the no-decision.

Campbell (24-18) got on the board first with two runs in the top of the fourth. After Hahs and Myers reached on singles to left field, both runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch from State starter Mathieu Gauthier. Anshaw stepped up and delivered a single to right to score both runners and put the Camels up 2-0.

State (31-12) cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth, as pinch hitter Brad Debo dropped an RBI single into shallow left field, scoring Terrell Tatum to make the score, 2-1.

The Wolfpack tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from leadoff man Josh McLain, scoring Tatum.

Myers helped the Camels retake the lead with an RBI single in the top of the eighth. The Chesapeake, Va., native roped a hit into right field that brought Hahs home. After reaching third on a fielding error, Myers came home on a wild pitch to give Campbell a 4-2 advantage.

The Wolfpack responded with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Shane Shepard notched a sacrifice fly to deep center field before Brock Deatherage came home on a wild pitch to tie the game.

Up next, the Camels are set to host a pivotal Big South series against the High Point Panthers. The three-game set is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Jim Perry Stadium in Buies Creek.

(Campbell media services provided the basis for this report)