Troy State splits doubleheader with Campbell
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 7, 2002
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Drew Miller and Wade Miller each hit home runs and Eric Wikstrom threw his third complete game of the season as Troy State split an Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader with Campbell, Monday at Taylor Field. Campbell won the first game, 10-2, while Troy State won the second game, 6-0. The Camels won the series, 2-1.
Troy State improves to 24-26 overall and 12-12 in the A-sun, while Campbell falls to 18-27 and 7-17. The Trojans maintain their hold on fifth place in the conference with six games remaining.
"We have to focus on ourself," head coach John Mayotte said. "This is a very good Campbell team who has had some hard luck this season."
In the first game, Brian Lipman led off the top of the second with a home run that gave Troy State a 1-0 advantage. It was his 14th of the season.
Campbell used a six-run second inning to run away with the game. Mike Wineke capped the frame with a three-run home run that curled just inside of the right field foul pole. The Camels added to their lead in the fourth when Sal Deanda hit a two-run double to left center field.
Troy State pushed a run across in the fifth when Chad Howard scored from third on Coby Smith’s single to left. Campbell responded with two more runs on three hits in the bottom half to take a 10-2 lead.
Trojan starter Justin Eason (6-6) was saddled with the loss after allowing a season-high eight runs on 10 hits in just three innings. Campbell’s Patrick Murray (7-5) allowing two runs while scattering eight hits as he threw his third complete game of the season. It was his first victory since March 29.
The second game started out just like the first as Wade Miller gave the Trojans a 2-0 lead when he sent a Corey Byrd fastball over the right centerfield fence for a two-run home run. Troy State made it 5-0 in the fourth when Drew Miller hit a 2-run home run to right field and Coby Smith followed with an RBI double five batters later. The Trojans added their final run in the fifth when Drew Miller scored on a wild pitch. Drew Miller went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Wade Miller also collected two hits to go along with two RBIs and one run.
Eric Wikstrom (4-2) shut down the Camel offense and earned his first victory in his last three starts. He struck out three and walked one, while scattering seven hits. He worked through the only serious Campbell scoring threat in the fourth when he left two runners stranded at second and third. He would finish the game by retiring 11 of the final 14 batters.
"I thought Eric pitched very well," Mayotte said. "He had good stuff and wraped up the series on a high note for us."
Corey Byrd fell to 1-5 after allowing five runs on four hits in 3.2 innings of work.
Troy State will return to action when it plays host to Jacksonville, Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field.