BUIES CREEK, N.C. — It was a season-best performance for the University of Evansville baseball team on Friday night as the Purple Aces collected 13 hits on the way to a 13-9 decision over host Campbell in the first of a three-game set at Jim Perry Stadium.

"It feels good to get our first Friday win," UE head coach Wes Carroll said. "It was a good effort from Patrick Schnieders on short rest, and then offensively, Kenton Crews and Craig Shepherd really set the table well for us. That gave us a chance to get the big hit and have the big inning. It's great to see us do a lot of the little things right too. We're still trying to figure out how to play a full nine innings, and we'll have a chance to win the series tomorrow."

Three different Aces racked up three hits in the contest, led by preseason All-American Trey Hair, whose sixth inning grand slam helped UE break open the game. The senior second baseman finished 3-for-5 with four runs batted in and a pair of scores. Meanwhile, freshmen Crews and Shepherd combined to touch home seven times.

As a team, the Aces (5-8) out-hit the hosts 13-10.

UE got on the board early as Crews, Shepherd and Hair each singled to load the bases. An Andrew Tanous fielder's choice and Travis Tokarek single plated two runs, but the Camels (5-8) halved the deficit in the ensuing frame as Cole Hallum touched home on a passed ball.

Each team would tack on a run in the third, and a two-run triple from Tanous in the fifth was followed up with a Tokarek single to stretch the lead to 6-2.

After Zach Minnick belted a solo homer in the bottom the fifth, the Aces grabbed a commanding lead in the sixth. Nate Reeder, Crews and Shepherd laced together consecutive singles to bring home the first run. Stewart Nelson followed up with walk to load the bases, and Hair cleared them with his third homer of the season to make it 11-3.

A wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk brought home two more in the eighth before the Camels touched home six times over the course of the final two innings to account for the final score.

Schnieders (2-1) picked up the win in the contest, allowing three runs (two earned) over five innings.

Minnick and Matthew Barefoot led the way for Campbell in the contest as each collected three hits. Barefoot also and three scores and four RBI.

UE will return to action on Saturday with an afternoon doubleheader at Jim Perry Stadium. First pitch in game one is set for 1 p.m. Eastern.

—#AcesAces —