LILLINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — Jonah Oster’s three-run homer in the third inning broke a scoreless tie and Campbell’s pitching staff, led by a dominant start from David Rossow, held William & Mary to five hits in a 6-1 victory Saturday at Jim Perry Stadium.

The game, a Colonial Athletic Association matchup played under the lights, saw the Fightin’ Camels (6-7) secure their second straight win over the Tribe (5-7) to even their weekend series.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the third inning. William & Mary starter Tom Bourque issued a walk to Lawson Simpson and hit Trenton Morton with a pitch, prompting a pitching change. Reliever Daniel Lingle entered and was immediately greeted by Oster, who drove a 1-0 offering deep over the left field wall for a three-run home run, giving Campbell a 3-0 lead it would not relinquish.

Campbell’s offense managed only two hits on the afternoon, with Oster’s homer accounting for both its first hit and all three runs batted in. The Fightin’ Camels capitalized on nine walks and three hit batters issued by six William & Mary pitchers to manufacture their remaining runs. A run scored on a double play grounder in the fourth, another on an RBI groundout by pinch-runner-turned-second baseman Clayton in the sixth, and a final run crossed on a wild pitch later in that same inning.

That minimal offensive support was more than enough for Campbell right-hander David Rossow. The top star for the Fightin’ Camels delivered a commanding performance, striking out nine over five innings while allowing just two hits and one earned run. He retired the first six batters he faced and worked out of his only significant jam in the fourth after Jamie Laskofski led off with a triple. A run scored on a groundout, but Rossow limited the damage and finished his outing with a perfect fifth inning, punctuated by a strikeout.

Mason Smith provided four scoreless innings of relief to earn the save, scattering three hits and striking out three to seal the victory.

William & Mary’s offense struggled throughout, striking out 13 times. Laskofski was a bright spot, going 3 for 4 with a triple, a stolen base, and the Tribe’s lone run scored. Stephen Christopher provided two innings of hitless relief for William & Mary, but the early deficit proved insurmountable.

The result defied the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 5-3 William & Mary victory, though Campbell’s 70.8% win probability according to the service’s ELO system proved accurate.

The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon. William & Mary will visit Virginia on Tuesday, while Campbell hosts Charlotte the same day.