ON THE BEAT: An In-Depth Look at Campbell From Evan Budrovich

Campbell broadcaster Evan Budrovich shares his thoughts on the Camels, NC State's opening opponent in the Columbia Regional.

There was some hot debate. How disappointed do you think the team is to not be hosting, and do you feel this is a motivational tool for them going into the Columbia Regional?
That's a great question. Justin Haire, the head coach... He put it best. We did everything we could do as a team, as a program, as a staff to be in a position to host. That would be a first for Campbell. They've been three seeds. They've been four seeds, but this is their first two seed. The way the RPI shakes out, they certainly feel like they should host. But I don't think that matters anymore. It did on Selection Monday, and it did that weekend. But for them now, they know they have to win a region. Ironically, I think it would've been reversed. It would've been Campbell hosting South Carolina at NC State. It probably would've been the same teams anyway. For them, it ties in with a 44-win season. Hey, if we want to make records all the time, we got to win this region and not just for the team. That was a good regular season, but have a good post post-season too.

The expectation is NC State will face Cade Kuehler, their star pitcher. You've watched him a lot. Just give us a scouting report. What do you expect to see from him if he's the guy to get the ball on Friday?
He will. He's a flamethrower. As a freshman, two years ago, he didn't pitch in the postseason. There were other arms they used in Starkville. He was the freshman of the year in the conference but didn't throw. Last year, he developed into a weekend arm, and they pitched him against Tennessee in the regional. Tennessee was amazing. He went seven innings, struck out 10. He gave up a few runs. But for a sophomore to have that type of start, he really wowed some people. That led to the off-season getting top 100 MLB Draft prospect, the Big South Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Lot of accolades for him.

To Cade's credit, he's the competitor. He's the guy who wants the ball every week. He pitched on a short rest in the Big South tournament last year. He's not afraid to throw, and he throws hard. It's mid-nineties with a fastball. He's got a good three-pitch mix. It's great. 

He was a kid who, like we said, had had good numbers last year but now is developed into the ace. The previous ace for Campbell, Thomas Harrington... He's now with the Pirates Organization. It's his turn. He's lived up to it. He threw seven innings scoreless in the Big South tournament. He had come off a sickness. He had mono. He didn't throw for about three weeks. But he looked good in the previous start and then looked amazing in the Big South. He's healthy. He's proven in the postseason that he's ready for the start.

If NC State's going to get at him, you've seen probably... You may have watched all his starts this year. I don't know. But if NC State is going to get at him, what are some areas teams have been able to have success against him?
The walks. He's only surrendered two home runs all year. Now, I totally get that. This ballpark here in Columbia is much more hitter-friendly than at Buies Creek. But, I mean, you know NC State's offense well enough. If Candelaria gets going, if Parker Nolan gets going, if Payton Green finds his first-half numbers in the second half, they're a dangerous offense. But for Kuehler... He has that a few starts with five or six walks. That can be his undoing. He doesn't allow a ton of hits. I think his batting average against is below 200. He's really solid at not allowing a lot of contact. But if he's falling behind and counts or if he's having to pitch a lot of pitches per inning, it may keep him around four or five. I think if you're NC State, it's worth the pitch count and trying to get him out after five.

Is he a guy that they'll stretch into the 100-pitch count, or do they typically have a set number they try to get to with him each start?
He is their strongest pitcher in the weight room. For him, 100 pitches is nothing. He threw in the region against Tennessee 120 pitches. He's very comfortable going 100-plus. Now, coming off the mono, maybe a little different story. But just overall, he's not afraid of going 100-plus, for sure.

This has to be an elite-level lineup. You've watched it a lot. Just in general, before you talk specifics on the players, just how impressed are you with Campbell’s hitting?
This has been now a four or five-year stretch. I give Justin Haire credit. This offense, the last three years, has done 100 doubles, 100 hit-by-pitches, 100 steals, and 100 home runs. It's beating you in different ways. I agree. Big South pitching is not the same as ACC or even SEC pitching. But to their credit, when they play an ECU, or they play a Duke, or they play a NC State, in years past, they've been able to score. To their credit, I think this year's lineup has five hitters with 10 or more home runs. It's balanced. It's not just the two main hitters. They've had that for a few years. This offense loves to run. They love to get hit by pitches. It's an old school/new school mix to a certain extent, where they want to beat you with power, but they also want to beat you with just getting on base and making life tough, which... That's a heck of a combo.

Give me the X-factor for Campbell this weekend. Is there one player you feel like if he plays well, they could get out of this Columbia Regional?
From a hitting standpoint, I'd say Bryce Arnold. He is a shortstop just outside of Toronto, Ontario. He's the energy bug/the spark plug of the team. He used to be the second baseman. They moved him to short this year. But offensively, double-digit home runs, doubles... He hits close to... I got to check the numbers, but 360 or 350. He is the tough out because he's very short but powerful. He's got tremendous power. Defensively, Campbell used to have Zach Neto, who was a first-round pick of the Angels that is now in the big leagues. Being able to fill that role is huge, too, because they need a good defensive shortstop. That is probably the one bugaboo for Campbell. They have not been a great fielding team this year. Now, they haven't had to when they're scoring 11 runs a game. Part of that goes with it. But in this type of competition, they can't make more than an error a game. If Arnold's playing well, it's short. They got a really good chance to win.

What do you think concerns them about this opening matchup against NC State?
It's interesting. Usually, the team that feels like they should have been the one seed has that chip or motivation. I would say NC State... and obviously, I know the history like you do, is equally motivated and a team that finally started playing better in the ACC tournament. Given how good Whitaker is and how good Fritton’s been out of the pen, in a one-game situation, state's pitching could be dangerous. You and I both know that state doesn't have the deepest bullpen. But in that opening game, if you get a good start and a good relief appearance, you only need three arms to throw. I do wonder as well if the wind is blowing out that both these offenses can swing for power. If it becomes a game with the bullpens, that may be an advantage for NC State in game one. If this was game five of the regional, maybe a different story. But given the power of both lineups, I am curious how the weather plays a factor.

Similar question, and then I'll let you get going. I think for Campbell, obviously, your hope is, going into a regional, we can win the start Kuehler makes because of how big of a factor he should be. Once you get past him, how important is this Friday game for Campbell? Because I don't know where they're pitching depth is. You have a better idea of that than me. But just if they can't win this game with him and they're going into the losers bracket, obviously, for everybody, it gets tougher from that bracket. But from a pitching standpoint, how tough does it get for them?
Their second starter... His name's Hunter Loyd. He's an ETSU transfer. He was actually a midweek starter for most of the year. But that's by design. Campbell plays a lot of tougher teams in the midweek. They'll use him against ACC, American, SEC teams. He's got a good slider, a good breaking ball. A lot of change of speed with him. They're a third starter... It's been by committee, which is the crazy part. For how good they've been as a team, they don't necessarily have a legitimate third starter. But they've had four or five guys who have been in that role. You'll see names like Cam O'Brien, who's a Wake Forest native. He'll throw 95 but can pitch four innings.

You'll see different guys like that. You'll see Aaron Rund, who's a sixth-year California JUCO guy, like the classic Campbell baseball story, that underrated but has excelled pitcher. He's their long reliever who can go five or six innings out of the pen.

You may see, from a starting standpoint, they have a kid named Cade Boxrucker, who's a junior. He threw in the Cape Cod League this summer. He's got tremendous stuff. He pitched in an elimination game against Mississippi State two years ago. They have some options. But it is interesting because you bring it up. If they do lose game one, it may be a bunch of... "This guy throws three. This guy throws four," and they piece it together. If they win game one, obviously, a little different story.