Thursday, May 25, 2006

DELAND, Fla. – ETSU came out on top in a slugfest with Campbell 11-10 to advance in the loser’s bracket of the 2006 Atlantic Sun Championship presented by Progress Energy.

Despite the final score, the two clubs were locked in a pitcher’s duel through the first five innings of the contest as Campbell starter Quinn LeSage limited ETSU (30-26) to single runs in the second and fourth innings while the Camels (19-38) scratched out two runs in the fifth against Bucs’ reliever Tony Lombardi. The lead switched hands in the top and the bottom of the sixth innings, putting ETSU up 4-3 heading into the offensive onslaught that was the seventh inning.

Campbell appeared to take control of the game with six seventh inning runs. Blake Waggett delivered the big hit with his bases clearing double during the inning. The power hitting Bucs answered with six runs of their own as Stephen Douglas delivered a two-out, two run double to briefly put ETSU back in front. The scoring continued in the eighth inning as Campbell knotted the game again at 10-10 when Tim Holt drove in Jacob Allen who had drawn a leadoff walk. However, the Bucs answered again as second team All-Atlantic Sun selection Shane Byrne executed a sacrifice squeeze to drive in the go-ahead run.

Center fielder Stephen Douglas finished 3-for-5 with three RBI’s to lead ETSU while Shane Byrne and C.J. Lee each added a pair of RBI’s as well. Campbell’s Blair Waggett drove in a tournament-best four runs and senior Tim Holt had three hits in his final game with the Camels. Each team used four pitchers as the Bucs relief ace Steven Calicutt improved to 8-5 on the year after surviving his 2.1 innings outing. Chris England fell to 5-6 after getting tagged with the loss.

ETSU improved to 16-7 this season in one run games and earn their first postseason victory since 2001. Campbell saw their A-Sun Championship losing streak reach seven straight since reaching the tournament finals in 2000.

ETSU keeps their championship hopes alive and will face the winner of tonight’s Mercer-Stetson tilt in tomorrow’s 3:00 pm contest.

Day two continues with top-seeded Jacksonville facing fourth-seed Florida Atlantic. FAU must win to avoid elimination. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.