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Campbell University

Caviness Strikes Out 16 as Softball Sweeps Pair at Mercer Friday in A-Sun Play

MACON, Ga.-Lauren Caviness struck out a combined 16 batters leading Campbell to two-game sweep of Mercer 2-0 and 4-2 Friday night at the Bears' Sikes Field. The junior southpaw moved into a tie for fourth place all-time in Campbell history with 40 career victories.

Sophomore Karlie Love delivered a two-out two-run single in the bottom of the fourth for the lone runs of game one lifting the Camels (23-27-1, 5-5 A-Sun) to the 2-0 victory. CU used a three-run fourth inning and a home run by Courtney Quinn in game two to complete the sweep.

In the opener, Shayla Cullum and Hilary Wheatley led off the fourth with back-to-back singles; the first base knocks of the game for the Camels.

Following a pair of outs, Jessica Huffman drew her team leading 24th walk to load up the bases setting up the stage for the sophomore Love. The Campbell first baseman took the Stephanie Rossman pitch into left field scoring Wheatley and Quinn, who reached on a fielder's choice.

Campbell got out of a jam in the second inning after allowing the first two batters on the inning to reach on a single and an error. Caviness responded striking out the next two batters and then CU got CJ Martin out at home trying to score on a fielder's choice.

The Bears (7-31, 0-2) left another pair of runners on base in the third on a pair of walks, but Caviness answered back with her fourth strikeout of the game.

Caviness (12-14) improved her A-Sun record to 4-3 with the victories in both games. She struck out eight in each game and allowed just three hits in the opener and four in game two. Caviness now has 159 strikeouts on the season pulling her to within seven of tying the Campbell single-season record of 166 which she set last season. Last week Caviness set the Campbell career strikeout record and now sits with 428.

Rossman (2-8) took the loss for the Bears despite allowing just three hits in seven innings. She allowed both runs, walked five and striking out five.

The Camels threatened in the bottom of the first inning of the nightcap with Huffman advancing to third with just one out, but April Cunningham struck out Campbell's next two batters to end the threat.

Huffman stole second base in both the first and third innings giving her 37 on the season bringing her within one of the Campbell single-season record. Earlier this year she took over the CU career record and now sits at 107.

Mercer put a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the third with just one out for the number two and three hitters in the lineup. Caviness came back and struck out both Kelley Bretscher and Jamie Madruga to end the inning; Mandruga entered the series leading the A-Sun with a .419 batting average.

The Camels took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth taking advantage of a pair of Mercer errors and three base hits. Quinn led off the inning drawing a walk and moving to second on a sac bunt by Love. Olivia Ghiselli singled and moved to second on a throwing error by the left fielder moving Quinn to third. Wheatley plated the first run of the inning for the Camels laying down a squeeze bunt scoring Quinn.

Stephenie Pappas pushed across the second run on another squeeze this time scoring Ghiselli. Wheatley scored the final run of the inning on a throwing error by the Bears' shortstop tying to throw out a speedy Megan Paul at first who had already reached the base for an infield single. Paul finished the game 2-for-3 from the plate and was the only Camel to register more than one hit in the doubleheader.

Quinn extended the Campbell lead to 4-0 with her fifth home run of the season in the fifth inning off of Rossman, who started the inning in relief for Cunningham.

Madruga brought Mercer to within a pair of runs at 4-2 with her 10th home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bretscher led off the inning drawing a walk.

The Bears put a pair of runners on with just one out in the bottom of the seventh with a single and a Campbell error. Caviness struck out Martin for the second out of the inning, but Bretscher kept the game alive loading the bases reaching on another Camel error. Caviness came right back and struck out Madruga to end the game.

Cunningham (2-13) took the loss allowing three runs, just one earned, scattering three hits over four innings. Rossman just gave up the home run to Quinn in her three innings of relief work.

The Camels continue their A-Sun road trip tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader at Kennesaw State (30-14, 4-2) beginning at 1:00 pm. The Owls swept preseason favorite Stetson this evening moving into second place in the league behind Lipscomb (22-16-1, 7-2-1).

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Players Mentioned

Lauren Caviness

#18 Lauren Caviness

P
5' 9"
Junior
Olivia Ghiselli

#7 Olivia Ghiselli

UTL
5' 11"
Freshman
Jessica Huffman

#14 Jessica Huffman

OF
5' 8"
Senior
Karlie Love

#12 Karlie Love

INF/P
5' 8"
Sophomore
Stephenie Pappas

#15 Stephenie Pappas

INF
5' 4"
Senior
Megan Paul

#11 Megan Paul

INF
5' 2"
Senior
Courtney Quinn

#23 Courtney Quinn

C/INF
5' 4"
Junior
Hilary Wheatley

#22 Hilary Wheatley

INF
5' 6"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Lauren Caviness

#18 Lauren Caviness

5' 9"
Junior
P
Olivia Ghiselli

#7 Olivia Ghiselli

5' 11"
Freshman
UTL
Jessica Huffman

#14 Jessica Huffman

5' 8"
Senior
OF
Karlie Love

#12 Karlie Love

5' 8"
Sophomore
INF/P
Stephenie Pappas

#15 Stephenie Pappas

5' 4"
Senior
INF
Megan Paul

#11 Megan Paul

5' 2"
Senior
INF
Courtney Quinn

#23 Courtney Quinn

5' 4"
Junior
C/INF
Hilary Wheatley

#22 Hilary Wheatley

5' 6"
Sophomore
INF