BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Lauren
Stephan only allowed one run in six innings from the circle and
also drove in two runs to aid Campbell's softball team (21-9, 7-3
Atlantic Sun) to 3-2 win and a split of its doubleheader with
Mercer (24-11, 3-1 Atlantic Sun) on Monday, March 30 at the Eakes
Athletic Complex. The Camels fell in the first game to the Bears by
a 5-2 count.
Campbell
got off
to a slow start in the second game as Page Raynor hit a second
inning home run for Mercer to put the Bears up by one.
The
lead held until the fifth inning when CU wrestled the lead back
with two runs. Stephan helped herself with a solo blast to lead off
the frame. Keeli Michael then doubled and moved to third on Hilary
Wheatley's sacrifice bunt. Robin Leathers plated Michael with her
single through the right side.
CU
added a necessary insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.
Brittany Stanley singled to lead off the inning. Lizzie Goldbach
ran for Stanley and came all the way around to score from first on
Stephan's two-out double to right centerfield.
Katie
Woodcock was brought in the seventh, and despite allowing a run on
Stacey Condra's home run to center, picked up her fifth save of the
season. Stephan (6-2) only allowed three hits and one run to win
her sixth game of the season. The loss went to Lacy Richardson
(7-5), who gave up two runs in four innings of work.
The
first game was a back-and-forth affair that saw the Bears take a
1-0 lead in the first. Holly Oglesbee doubled to lead off the
inning, moved to third on a pass ball and came around to score on
Sara Stukes fielder's choice ground out.
Campbell
tied the
score in the third on Leathers' solo home run. It was Leathers'
eighth home run of the season and the fifth for her in conference
play this season. CU took the lead in the fourth as Karlie Love hit
her 11th home run of the season.
The
lead stood until the top of the sixth when Mercer was able to push
four unearned runs across against Stanley. Stukes reached on an
error and scored on Jenny Goodman's pinch hit single. Goodman then
stole second before Stacey Condra doubled her in. An RBI single
from Cassy Neilson followed to score Condra. Megan Rutherford was
brought in to run for Neilson and scored on Amanda Santa Maria's
double for the forth and final run of the frame.
Stanley
(6-3)
took the loss for Campbell in the first game despite not allowing
an earned run and striking out seven in defeat. The win went to
Jenni Holtz (16-5), who went all seven innings with eight
strikeouts and two runs allowed.
The
Camels will continue the busy week with a trip to Greensboro to
take on UNCG (12-17) in a doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 4
p.m.
