By Jeremy Moorhouse

The Mount Airy News

Reprinted with permission

BUIES CREEK, N.C.-Karlie Love is making a name for herself as one of Campbell's power hitters so far this season.

The junior first baseman and former East Surry softball star is a big reason for the Camels' early season success. Campbell was 14-4 heading into Tuesday's game at Fresno State.

Love is third on the team in hitting at .372.

"We are off to a great start," Love said. "We are playing some tough competition. We have good chemistry. I've tried to step up."

Love was recruited to play first base for the Camels. She has shined on defense - with 151 putouts and only two errors.

"Karlie is certainly a strong leader on our team, and as such is important to us," Campbell coach Drew Peterson said. "We depend on her playing a steady first base and doing her share of damage on offense."

In 43 at-bats, Love has driven in seven runs, recorded 16 hits, had four doubles, three home runs (third on team), 12 RBIs and has drawn a team-high 13 walks.

Peterson said a big part of her improvement this year has been due to catching up to the learning curve and work with new assistant/hitting coach Jay Pyron.

"She has a good plan, is making good choices and making more consistently good swings staying inside the ball longer," Peterson said.

Campbell is led by Love, Amanda Littlejohn (.448, 29 RBIs and seven home runs) and Courtney Quinn (.404, 13 RBIs, six home runs). The Camels are currently ranked fourth in the nation in home runs.

The Camels are 3-1 in the Santa Clara Bronco Classic with two games to go before heading to the Stanford University Classic.

At East Surry, Love had a career 1.00 ERA with 443 strikeouts in 373 2/3 innings. She was a career .423 hitter with 89 RBIs and only struck out 27 times.

Love was a key player on the East state championship team in 2005.

"It's a different world from high school ball for sure," Love said. "There's so much more focus on detail. I think I've become a much smarter player. I can tell each season my love for the game has grown. I'm starting to run out of years to play.

"After this season and next season I'll be done. I want to make the most of the opportunity I have and be the best I can be."

Love has excelled academically while at Campbell - majoring in government with a concentration in international studies and minoring in spanish.

During the season, the team practices 20 hours a week Monday through Saturday.

"It teaches us time management," she said. "I don't have the option of staying up late."

"Karlie leads primarily by example," Peterson said. "She is certainly well-liked and

respected by her teammates, but she is not what I would call an in-your-face motivator or confronter. She comes out each day, does her job as well as she can and heads home to study. There are no chinks in her armor, and I think that speaks volumes to her teammates."

Love received Atlantic Sun All-Academic honors as a freshman and a sophomore and was named to the NFCA Scholar Athlete team both seasons as well.

"I think she has matured a lot mentally. She understands how to approach her at bats based on the pitcher. Karlie has certainly improved her fitness/strength levels and is well aware of what it takes to be a successful D1 player," Peterson said. "She has been able to witness several first hand both at Campbell and on other programs, and she has been able to take that knowledge and apply it. Karlie is very serious about being the best she can be in all areas of her life. We are very proud to have her in our program."

The 5-foot-8 Love is confident in her team's ability to make a run down the stretch.

"This year we are definitely more offensive than I think we've ever been," Love said. "We are going great offensively, great pitching. Our defense is great.

"We are shooting for conference champions and going to NCAA regionals and doing awesome there."

Contact Jeremy Moorhouse at jmoorhouse@mtairynews.com or 719-1920.