Campbell erased an early 4-0 Blue Hose lead with eight runs off nine hits during a three-inning stretch, and held off a PC rally in the seventh, to take the 8-6 win in game one of the three-game Big South baseball series this afternoon at Taylor Field in Buies Creek, N.C.
PC fell to 23-30 overall and 9-13 in the Big South while Campbell improved to 39-15, 14-8. Both teams will play again today at 6 p.m. The final game of the series will take place Saturday at 1 p.m.
After Jay Lizanich led off the third with a walk, Andrew Williams followed with a bunt single to third. Gabe Grammer advanced to first the next-play off an error by the third baseman, with Lizanich and Williams moving to third and second, respectively.
Billy Motroni, who is batting .338 with runners on base, came through with a single to left field that drove in two.
Grammer scored two batters later off another Campbell error, while Motroni scored PC's fourth run when the Camel shortstop misplayed the ball on a steal attempt by Bryant.
The next two PC batters were retired but not before the Blue Hose held the 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third.
Campbell put its first two batters of the inning on base off a single and a hit-by-pitch, respectively. Both runners advanced to second and third off a fly-out by Jake Kirkland. David Olson singled down the left field line the next at-bat as the Camels cut the margin to two, 4-2.
The Camels plated two more runs the next inning when Erick Gaylord, who drew a walk to lead off the inning and advanced off a PC error and a hit-by-pitch the next two plays, scored off a Ben McQuown sacrifice fly to center field.
The game-tying run came home the next play off a single to right by Michael Felton and PC and Campbell were tied at four.
A double by Nick Ray started things off for Campbell in the bottom of the fifth. Ben Fish singled down the right field line, which drove in Ray, and the Camels led 5-4. Fish scored two batters later when Graham hit a single up the middle. Graham provided the seventh run for Campbell, scoring off a McQuown single to left field.
McQuown stole second and made it an 8-4 game when Felton knocked a single to left field the next at-bat to bring him home.
After a quiet sixth inning, PC cut into the Campbell lead with a two-run home run by Bryant, his team-leading ninth of the year. Grammer scored on the play after reaching base on an inning lead-off walk. The Blue Hose were only able to collect one hit over the next two innings to fall by the 8-6 final.
Chad Sanders started for the Blue Hose and went 4.0 innings, giving up six runs off nine hits for the loss (1-2). Paul Eyster earned the win for Campbell (3-1), going 4.0 innings and giving up two runs off four hits. Ryan Mattes came in the ninth inning and retired the side to pick up his 10th save of the season.
Motroni led offensively with his two-for-five effort and one RBI. Bryant was one-for-four with two RBI.
PC recorded seven hits and two errors in the game, while Campbell ended with 12 hits and three errors.
Campbell 8, Presbyterian College 6 (May 18, 2012 at Buies Creek, N.C.) (Game 1)
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Presbyterian College 004 000 200 - 6 7 2 (23-30, 9-13 BSC)
Campbell............ 002 240 00X - 8 12 3 (39-15, 14-8 BSC)
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Pitchers: Presbyterian College - SANDERS, Chad; RICHARDSON, Steven(5) and SWAB, Robby.
Campbell - SERGEY, M.; EYSTER, P.(4); MARKSBERRY,(8); MATTES, R.(9) and FISH, B.; DELUCIA, M..
Win-EYSTER, P.(3-1) Save-MATTES, R.(10) Loss-SANDERS, Chad(1-2) T-2:41 A-0
HR PC - BRYANT, Kenny (9).
Weather: overcast and mild
SANDERS, C. faced 2 batters in the 5th.
