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BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The La Salle baseball team dropped its season opener, 9-2, against Campbell on Saturday afternoon at Jim Perry Stadium. The Camels used a 15-hit effort to dump the Explorers.

Campbell (1-0) scored the first eight runs of the ball game, tagging starting pitcher Shawn O'Neill (0-1) for five runs (three earned) in the first four innings. They piled on three more in the sixth and one in the seventh against Brian Maher (1.2 IP, 2 ER) and Andrew Craig (1.1 IP, 2 ER).

The Explorers got on the board in the top of the seventh when George Smith Jr (1-2, 2 BB, R) touched home as Cameron Johnson (1-5) grounded into a double play. Smith Jr led off the inning with a free pass.

La Salle tacked on another in the eighth on a Ryan Welling (1-4, RBI) double. He plated Mark Williams (1-3, BB, R), who reached on an error to lead off the frame.

The Explorers tallied six hits on the day, led by a 2-for-4 performance from Josh Savakinus in his first game as an Explorer. Greg Krug tossed a scoreless eighth inning in his debut in the Blue and Gold.

Campbell starting pitcher Heath Bowers (1-0) earned the win, throwing six scoreless innings. He struck out six and walked three.

The Explorers and Camels will play two tomorrow, with the doubleheader set to begin at noon.