RALEIGH, N.C. – After nearly a week off for exams, Campbell showed little signs of rust as they defeated N.C. State by a 7-4 margin at Doak Field. The Camels improve to 23-19 on the season, while the Wolfpack dips to 20-25.
The Wolfpack got the scoring started in the bottom of the second when Andrew Ciencin hit a solo home run over the left field wall. Ciencin’s third home run of the season gave NCSU a 1-0 lead.
NC State extended their lead to 2-0 when Andrew Ciencin hit his second home run of the game. The solo home run by Ciencin, like his first, cleared the left field wall.
Campbell finally pushed runs across in the top half of the fourth. The Camels scored four runs in the inning to take a 4-2 lead. The fourth inning got started with a Kevin Nelson (Sunrise, Fla.) bunt down the left side of the infield. After Chris Bangi (Jacksonville, Fla.) walked, Ellis Lowe (San Diego, Calif.) laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Nelson and Bangi to move 90 feet closer to home.
With one out, Ryan Hamme (Wilmington, N.C.) walked on four straight pitches to give the Camels bases loaded. Brian Gana (Richland, Wash.) brought home two Camels (Nelson and Bangi) around to score with a double to the left center field gap. Ryan Hamme scored the third run of the inning for Campbell when Zach Johnson (Smithfield, N.C.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field. The fourth and final run of the inning for Campbell came on a single to center field by Alex Aycoth (Sanford, Fla.) that allowed Brian Gana to score, giving the Camels a 4-2 lead.
The Camels would extend their lead to 6-2 thanks to a two run sixth inning. Bryan Braswell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) and Kevin Nelson started the inning with a pair of singles. Braswell and Nelson each advanced a base on a passed ball by catcher Chris Schaeffer. Braswell scored when Ellis Lowe singled to right field; Nelson was able to advance to third base on Lowe’s hit. Nelson scored on a Ryan Hamme fielder’s choice to the shortstop.
Jeff Rydman (Gladstone, Mo.) started on the bump for Campbell against the Wolfpack. The junior pitched 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, while fanning four NCSU batters. Rydman now owns a 5-0 record on the season,
With Campbell leading 6-2, NC State pushed one run across in the home half of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 6-3. Andrew Ciencin scored his third run of the game on a Chris Schaeffer double down the left field line.
Campbell pushed its final run of the game across in the top of the eighth inning. Kevin Nelson scored his third run of the game on a Ryan Hamme sacrifice fly to left field. Nelson’s run gave the Camels a 7-3 lead.
NC State pushed a run across in the bottom of the ninth inning to make the final margin 7-4.
Dan Gardo (West Chester, Pa.) picked up his first career save after pitching the final 2.2 innings. Gardo allowed just one run on three hits, while fanning five batters.
The loss was credited to Jimmy Gillheeney and his record is now 5-4. Gillheeney pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 11 hits as six runs came around to score.
Campbell was led at the dish by Ellis Lowe and Kevin Nelson. The pair of Camels combined for seven hits, three runs and one RBI.
Campbell and NC State will finish their two game series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch at Taylor Field is slated for 4 p.m.
Courtesy: Will Bratton