BUIES CREEK, N.C.- Brad Mincey threw six strong innings in his first career start and Seth Simmons shut the door fanning a career-high five batters to lift East Carolina to its third victory over Campbell this season, dropping the Camels by a score of 9-3, Wednesday night at Taylor Field. East Carolina outscored Campbell 31-7 in its three contests this season.
Mincey (3-0) was solid on the mound for the Pirates picking up his third victory of the season, fanning four Campbell hitters in six complete innings. The freshman from Wilmington, N.C. scattered six hits and allowed three runs, while surrendering just one walk.
Simmons was just as good out of the pen for East Carolina as he picked up his first career save after tossing three innings of shutout baseball. Simmons didn’t allow a hit or walk in his 19th outing of the season.
Wes Edwards (1-3), one of six Campbell pitchers to throw in the contest, took the loss for the Camels giving up three runs in an inning of work. Ryan Hamme was the only Camel pitcher to not allow a run.
Jamie Ray paced East Carolina’s offensive attack as he was one of three Pirate players to nab three hits in the contest. Ray, a senior from Casar, N.C., drove in three runs in the contest and scored another. Brandon Henderson, who also collected three hits in the game, was the only Pirate player to grab an extra base hit.
Ellis Lowe was the only Camel to have a multi-hit performance, which marks his 14th of the season. Hamme saw his ten game hitting streak snapped as East Carolina center fielder Harrison Eldridge ran down what looked like a double in the second inning.
East Carolina (29-13) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead posting single runs in the first and third innings. The Pirates took advantage of a fielding error by second baseman Ellis Lowe to plate its first run of the game. After Ryan Wood reached on the error in the first, Henderson knocked him in with a two-out single to center field. Wood scored his second consecutive run in the third after reaching base on a single and being driven in by a Corey Kemp liner to left-center.
Campbell (17-25) answered with single runs in the third and fourth to tie the ballgame at two each. Zach Johnson led the third inning off with a double to left and was brought home on Hamme’s liner to center field. After Brandon Scott doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch, Mike Causey chopped a grounder to second to score Scott from third.
East Carolina put the Camels away with a three run fifth to take a 5-2 lead and a pair of two run innings to close out the ballgame at 9-3. Stephen Batts and Kemp led the fifth inning off with back-to-back singles and both advanced on an Edwards balk. After Batts scored on a wild pitch, Kemp scored on a Ray single through the left side. Kyle Roller plated Kemp with grounder to second for the Pirates’ third run of the fifth.
A Bryan Braswell sacrifice fly to center plated Brian Gana, who doubled to lead off the seventh, which finalized Campbell’s scoring output of three.
East Carolina improved its advantage in the all-time series to 41-17. The last time the Camels dropped the Pirates was last season at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Campbell hosts Kennesaw State on Friday (April 25) and Saturday (April 26) in what is an extremely important A-Sun series at Taylor Field. Friday’s first pitch is slated for 4 p.m., which will be followed with a firework display and a screening of Field Of Dreams, sponsored by Campbell's Campus Activities Board.
Courtesy: GoCamels.com