Courtesy: Will Bratton Alex Aycoth hit his first career home run in a Camel uniform on Saturday afternoon.

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After three straight contests of scoring seven runs or fewer, Campbell had little trouble eclipsing that total, as they defeated NC State by a score of 16-7.  With Saturday’s win at Taylor Field, Campbell improves to 24-19 on the season, while NC State dips to 20-26.

 

It was Campbell striking first with a three run first inning.  Campbell found runners on second and third with two outs and capitalized on the opportunity.  Zach Johnson (Smithfield, N.C.) hit his 28^th double of the season, a double that allowed Ellis Lowe (San Diego, Calif.) and Ryan Hamme (Wilmington, N.C.) to score.  The Camels extended their lead to 3-0 when Alex Aycoth (Sanford, Fla.) doubled off the right field wall, which allowed Zach Johnson to score.

 

NC State would answer the Camels fast start with a five run second inning.  A rally that knocked Campbell’s starting pitcher Logan Davis (Ft. Cobb, Okla.) from the game.  Davis pitched just one and two-thirds of an inning, giving up five runs on just six hits. 

 

Campbell would respond to the Wolfpack rally as it posted three runs in the home half of the second.  With the bases loaded, Ryan Hamme doubled to the left center field gap.  That double allowed Ellis Lowe to advance to third, while Stephen Parsons (Chesapeake, Va.) and Chris Bangi (Jacksonville, Fla.) were able to score.  Ellis Lowe scored on a Brian Gana (Richland, Wash.) RBI groundout as the Camels took a 6-5 lead.

 

The Wolfpack bats quickly cooled, however the Camels seemed to find hotter bats.  Campbell broke open what was a close game by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a nine run lead.  Highlighting the Campbell third inning was a Kevin Nelson (Sunrise, Fla.) two RBI double down the left field line; as well as Alex Aycoth’s first home run in a Campbell uniform.  The three run home run to left center field gave the Camels the 14-5 lead.

 

Junior southpaw Hunter Ford (Wilmington, N.C.) was credited with his fourth win of the season after relieving Logan Davis.  Ford (4-2) pitched 4.1 innings, giving up just two runs on two hits.

 

Campbell tallied a single run in both the fourth and fifth innings, while NC State pushed across two runs in the top of the sixth.  The two runs scored by the Wolfpack set the final margin at 16-7.

 

Ryan Hamme pitched the final three innings for Campbell on Saturday.  The senior gave up just one hit while striking out three; two of the three strikeouts came in the final inning.  Hamme was credited with his third save of the season, which is a team high.

 

NC State hurler John Lambert (1-3) was credited with the loss after pitching just 1.1 innings, giving up six runs on five hits.  NC State used three pitchers to close out the game.  Jake Buchannan, Travis High and Cory Mazzoni gave up a combined seven hits while 10 runs came around to score. 

 

Entering Saturday’s game, Campbell, as a team, needed just four stolen bases to surpass the single season mark of 106.  With five stolen bases against the Wolfpack, Campbell now has 108 on the season, surpassing the record held by the 2008 squad.

 

The 16 runs that Campbell scored on Saturday ties the school record for the second most runs scored in a single game against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent.  Campbell scored 16 runs in a game against North Carolina in the 1982 season, while scoring 19 in a single game against the Tar Heels in 1986.

 

Alex Aycoth led the Camels at the dish after batting 3-of-4 with a double and a home run.  Aycoth had four RBI and scored two runs.

 

Campbell will return to the diamond on Tuesday when they travel to Greensboro, N.C.  First pitch between the Camels and the UNC-G Spartans is slated for 7 p.m.