Charleston Tops William & Mary, 8-3, Behind Campbell's Complete Game, Timely Hitting
Rob Washburn
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WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 28, 2021) – Behind freshman left-hander Connor Campbell’s first career complete game and some timely hitting from Tanner Steffy and Ari Sechopoulos, fourth-seeded Charleston stayed alive in the CAA Baseball Championship by beating #6 William & Mary, 8-3, Friday afternoon at UNCW’s Brooks Field.
The Cougars (26-24) will be back on the field at 3 p.m. to face #3 Elon in another elimination contest. William & Mary ended its season with a 14-29 record.
Campbell (6-4) scattered nine hits and gave up three runs (two earned) in a 103-pitch performance. He struck out four and didn’t issue a walk.
Steffy went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI’s and Sechopoulos was 3-for-5 with a double and drove in two to pace the Cougars’ 12-hit attack. Charleston delivered in the clutch, scoring six of its eight runs after two were out.
With the game tied 2-2 in the seventh, Charleston was able to break the game open. The Cougars loaded the bases with two outs and Steffy hit a liner through the right side that brought in two. Sechopoulos followed with a two-run double down the left-field line, giving the Cougars a 6-2 lead.
Shortstop Trotter Harlan’s fifth homer of the season put Charleston up 1-0 in the third, but William & Mary drew even in the fifth when outfielder Matt Thomas doubled and scored on a David Hogarth ground out.
The two teams traded runs in the sixth. With two outs, the Cougars got consecutive singles from Steffy, Sechopoulos and Jared Kirven to grab a 2-1 advantage. The Tribe answered in the bottom of the frame as Joe Delossantos singled, advanced to third on an error and a sacrifice, and came home on a Jack Cone grounder.
Following the big seventh inning, Charleston tacked on a run in the eighth on a solo homer by Donald Hansis, and added another in the ninth as Harrison Hawkins scored on a fielder’s choice.
William & Mary threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with none out after singles by Cone, Tyler Solomon and Thomas. However, Campbell induced a grounder to second and then ended the game by snagging a line drive and doubling the runner off first.
Thomas finished 3-for-4 with a run scored to pace the Tribe and Matt Trehub was 2-for-4.