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The Flames sent senior RHP Ryan Campbell with a perfect ERA and 2-0 record against freshman LHP Brant Hurter, making his second straight Saturday start. Last week’s start didn’t go as hoped for Hurter, and he planned to show he was ready for the role. He pitched much better, giving up only one run, three hits and a walk in four strong innings. The Jackets put together just enough offense to hand Campbell his first loss.
The Flames scored their first run of the series in the 1st when Norton doubled to right, advanced to 3rd on a groundout and scored on another groundout. Brant was able to pitch out of trouble in the 2nd and 3rd innings, leaving runners in scoring position in both. Campbell handled the Jackets through three, stranding Wilhite at 3rd in the third inning.
The Jackets ruined Campbell’s perfect ERA in the fourth. “Mr. Doubles” English started it off and scored on Kel Johnson’s single. Next, Waddell beat out a bunt and Carter Hall bunted the two runners over for his brother Colin, who drove them in to make it 3-1 after four. Keyton Gibson relieved Hurter for the fifth, probably on pitch count.
After two quick innings, Jared Datoc relieved Gibson, who had given up one hit and walked one, plus benefitted from a double play in the sixth. Jared gave up a leadoff double to Gilbert, but Joey Bart threw behind him to 2nd and he was run down. In the Flames’ 8th, Scott Ota hit a solo homerun to right center to cut the lead to one. Ota came in leading the Flames in BA and is 5-8 this weekend.
Tristen English came in to pitch the ninth, with McCann going to first base. The Flames got a one out single, but the final two outs came on pretty well hit fly balls to right, and the Jackets won 3-2 to improve to 8-2 overall. Campbell got a tough complete game loss, as he gave up his first earned runs of the season. The win went to Gibson since Hurter didn’t complete five innings, with English getting the one inning save. Colin Hall drove in the winning run; Jacket pitchers only walked two, gave up 7 hits, and Wilhite made an error at shortstop.