Box Score CHARLESTON, S.C. – Campbell broke a 5-5 tie with two runs in the eighth innings to snatch the series finale from Charleston Southern with a 7-5 win on Saturday at CSU Ballpark.
Campbell improves to 14-11 overall and 2-1 in Big South play, while CSU falls to 11-13 and 1-2.
The Camels had 15 hits in the win and made the most of their opportunities by simply putting the ball in play. CU had four infield singles – two by bunt – during a four-run sixth to rally from two down to take a 5-3 lead. Brian Taylor has an RBI double in the inning and added the go-ahead single in the eighth to lead the Camels.
Closer Erik Dowse (W, 2-0) held the Buccaneer scoreless over the final 3.2 innings to get the win in relief. He struck out five and forced CSU to strand a pair of runners in each of its final two at-bats.
Nate Blanchard and Sly Edwards both had three hits for the Bucs. Blanchard doubled with two outs in the eighth to give CSU a pair of runners in scoring position, but Dowse struck out Cole German to end the threat.
CSU put two more on in the ninth on a pinch-hit single by Brandon Gragilla and a single by Cole Murphy, but Dowse struck out Ryan Maksim to end the game. Both teams left 11 runners on in the game.
CSU seemed to have the game under control until the sixth. Starter Daniel Johnson stuck out three and gave up only an unearned run on his own error in the first.
Campbell scored without the benefit of a hit in the first. The Camels took a 1-0 lead on a throwing error by pitcher Daniel Johnson on a potential inning-ending double play. Johnson handled Matt Parrish''s comebacker cleanly, but the throw slipped wide of Ryan Maksim's reach at second, allowing Anthony Lopez to scamper home after a leadoff walk.
The Bucs answered back in the second on a solo home run by Cole Murphy off of CU starter Grant Yost.
CSU grabbed a 3-1 lead on a two-out, two-run single by Chris Singleton in the third. Singleton picked up his team-leading 18th and 19th RBI of the season, yanking a single from Yost into left field to score Nate Blanchard and the speedy Sly Edwards from second.
CSU loaded the bases in sixth to tie the game. Blanchard's two-out, two-run single knotted the contest at 5-5.
Blanchard and Singleton both finished with two RBI.
CU's Drew Butler was 4-for-5 with and scored a run. Taylor finished 2-for-5 with two RBI.
CSU returns to action on Tuesday at The Citadel. First pitch is at 6 p.m. at Joe Riley Park.
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