But the popular second-year player came up huge Friday night, delivering a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning that gave Jamestown some much-needed breathing room en route to a 9-6 victory over Auburn at Diethrick Park.

“It was good timing,” Kampes said. “I was feeling great at the plate. … (The coaching staff) told me to trust the process and it paid off tonight. The bigger payoff is the team win.”

The victory improved the Tarp Skunks’ record to 8-4, good for third place in the West Division. They’ll look to make it three straight wins tonight when they entertain Elmira. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m.

Continued offensive contributions from Kampes will be welcomed.

Jamestown shortstop Julian Thompson fields a groundball during Friday’s Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League game at Diethrick Park. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

“Johnny knows one way or another he’s still going to get his opportunities,” Jamestown manager Jordan Basile said. “Some guys it takes 100 at-bats, some guys it takes 50 at-bats and some guys it takes zero at-bats. It was going to come. It was just a matter of when it was going to come. It couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Entering last night, Kampes had just two hits in the first 2¢ weeks of the campaign, but after Henry Martinez led off the eighth inning with a single, Will Dorrell reached on an infield single one out later. Cody Bey then drew a two-out walk, sending Kampes to the plate with the bases loaded against Doubledays’ reliever Jacob Kocuba.

This time Kampes delivered, singling to right-center field, which plated Martinez and Dorrell. Bey scored on a throwing error, which allowed Kampes to take second.

“When I got that hit, I wasn’t excited for myself, I was excited for the team and the fans, who were going crazy,” he said. “It’s just an electric atmosphere here.”

It also allowed Basile to exhale.

At one point, Jamestown led 6-1, courtesy of a six-run second inning, highlighted by three walks, a hit batter, a fielding error, a double by Padraig O’Shaughnessy, an RBI single by Julian Thompson and a two-run infield single by Yogi Hartigan.

Armed with a five-run lead, Tarp Skunks’ starter and winner, Patrick DeMarco (2-0) kept Auburn in check, yielding two runs and three hits in five innings of work. He struck out four and walked three.

“I thought that’s the best he’s looked all year,” Basile said. “He’s slowly working himself up to a pitch count he wants to get to. He’s starting to get in the groove right now and it’s good to see.”

Warren, Pennsylvania native Ryan Rafalski came on in relief and worked the sixth and seventh innings, surrendering two runs, striking out three, walking one and giving up five hits, although two of them never left the infield grass.

“Last time out at Niagara he threw great,” Basile said. “He came in today and threw great again. That’s what we need in the middle of the game.”

Nathan Smith was called on to pitch the final two innings. He gave up two runs, issued three walks and threw three wild pitches, but he buckled down after issuing two free passes to start the ninth with a strikeout, a popup and a groundout to end the game and earn the save.

Now 12 games into the season, Basile likes how his team is playing.

“I feel good,” he said. “There’s still a long way to go, but we played a good Auburn team. We figure they’re going to be in it toward the end as well.”

NOTES: Martinez and O’Shaughnessy both had two hits for the Tarp Skunks. … Andrew Tan and Zane Roos had two hits apiece for Auburn (6-6).