LILLINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — Dante Vachini sparked a first-inning rally and the Cal Poly Mustangs withstood a late push from Campbell to edge the Fightin’ Camels 4-3 on Saturday at Jim Perry Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Mustangs, who dropped the series opener 5-2 on Friday, improved to 2-1 overall. Campbell fell to 1-2.

Cal Poly seized control immediately against Campbell starter Wyatt Clark. Leadoff hitter Vachini, the Mustangs’ left fielder, opened the game with a double down the right field line. He advanced to third on a flyout by Nate Castellon and then scored on Alejandro Garza’s groundout to shortstop. Catcher Ryan Tayman followed with a double to right-center, but Clark escaped further damage with a strikeout.

The Mustangs extended their lead to 2-0 in the third. Vachini singled up the middle, moved to second on a groundout and scored on Garza’s second RBI of the day, a single to left field.

Campbell’s offense, stifled by Cal Poly starter Griffin Palmer through four innings, broke through in the fifth. Back-to-back singles by Lawson Rumley and Reed Clayton put runners on the corners with one out. After a strikeout, Clayton stole second. With runners now at second and third, Palmer was called for a balk, allowing Rumley to score. Clayton then came home on a double to right field by Dalen Lugo, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Cal Poly answered in the top of the sixth. Castellon led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a two-out single to right by Casey Murray, restoring a two-run cushion at 3-1.

The Fightin’ Camels threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out against reliever Ryan McGrath on a single and two walks. McGrath struck out Clayton looking, and a pitching change brought in Evan Pettey, who induced an inning-ending flyout to center to preserve the lead.

The Mustangs added a critical insurance run in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Cam Hoiland doubled and advanced to third on a groundout. Jake Downing, who entered the game as a defensive replacement, then delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Hoiland to make it 4-1.

That run proved decisive. In the bottom of the ninth, Campbell mounted a final rally against Pettey. Rumley walked and, with two outs, pinch-hitter Keller singled through the right side to drive him home, pulling the Fightin’ Camels within a run at 4-3. The potential tying run was on base, but Pettey ended the game by getting Lugo to hit into a fielder’s choice, with shortstop Castellon making the play unassisted.

The most important part of the game was Cal Poly’s ability to answer each Campbell push. After the Fightin’ Camels cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth, the Mustangs immediately scored in the sixth. Then, after adding a run in the top of the ninth, Cal Poly’s bullpen narrowly closed the door in the bottom half, stranding the potential tying run on base. This resilience secured the narrow victory.

Vachini finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead Cal Poly’s seven-hit attack. Garza drove in two runs. Palmer earned the win with five innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits and striking out five. Pettey secured the save despite the ninth-inning run.

For Campbell, Lugo went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Clark took the loss, surrendering three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings.

The teams were set to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday. Cal Poly will host Washington State for a four-game series beginning Feb. 20. Campbell will host East Carolina on Feb. 17 before a road series at Troy.