BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell's softball team (5-15-1), after a few near misses against N.C. State and No. 19 Tennessee last week, returns home this week to take on Hampton on Tuesday starting at 4 p.m. The Camels are then slated to get back on the road and travel to Winston-Salem State on Friday night and North Carolina Central on Saturday afternoon for doubleheaders.

The Camels were able to split their six difficult games last week including coming within five out of knocking off No. 19 Tennessee at Sherri Lee Softball Stadium over the weekend in Knoxville, Tenn. CU was able to pick up wins against North Carolina State, Liberty and Tennessee Tech last week. Sophomore Christina Melton had a strong week at the plate and led the team with eight hits and a .444 batting average. She also tied for the team lead with four runs scored and four RBIs. The dual threat also won her second game of the season from the circle. Junior Lauren Stephan hit a three-run home run against Tennessee that was the stuff of legends as it clanged high off the manual clock at the top of UT's left field scoreboard. The home run also allowed Campbell to take the lead back from the Vols in an eventual 9-6 loss. Senior Brittany Stanley tied a Campbell record with her 19th career shutout in the first game of the day. The 4-0 shutout against Tennessee Tech allowed her to tie Andrea Nardolillio (1991-94) and Christine Hornak (1994-96) in the Campbell record books.

Hampton (7-16) played seven games over the weekend and a total of 11 games last week during its spring break. The Lady Pirates were crowned as runner-ups in the tournament they hosted. Kelsei Saunders was named MVP after hitting five home runs during the six weekend games. In the most recent season stats available, prior to the weekend games, Hampton is being led by sophomore Rebecca Magett. Magett was hitting .375 with nine hits and three RBIs. Freshman Tamara Vickers had 17 hits and seven RBIs. The top pitcher for the Lady Pirates was sophomore Sydni Benton, who had an ERA of 4.80 and 12 strikeouts in 15 innings worked. Sophomore Travonna Byrd has won two games and leads the team with 46 innings worked. Campbell has only faced Hampton twice before and that was in 2001 at the Seahawk Classic. CU walked away with victories of 8-1 and 4-0. The Camels are 39-5 all-time against schools from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Winston-Salem State (2-7) has dropped the team's last five games including three games at the Adidas/Winthrop Invitational over the weekend. One of the losses at the Adidas Invitational was to CU Atlantic Sun rival USC Upstate by score of 8-0. Senior Whitney Hall has been the team's best hitter with nine hits, three doubles, two home runs and six RBIs. Freshman Brittany Lane has been the team's most durable pitcher and has made seven starts with four complete games and 22 strikeouts in 32 innings worked. WSSU has also lost twice to one of this week's opponents for Campbell in Hampton. The Rams will play Maryland Eastern Shore in a single game during the mid-week on Tuesday. CU leads the series with Winston-Salem State by a 2-0 count. The two teams previous games were on Feb. 26 2008, when Campbell was able to win 12-0 (5 inn.) and 8-0 (6 inn) at home at the Eakes Athletic Complex.

North Carolina Central (4-14) lost all five games at the Texas Tech Tournament over the weekend. NCCU have already tied their win total from last season with victories over Norfolk State, South Carolina State and St. Paul's College twice. Senior Desanbra Franklin has been the team's top hitter with a .407 batting average, 22 hits, 14 runs, eight doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs. Freshman Nadia Jefferies has also done well with a .400 batting average, 18 hits and nine runs. Redshirt freshman Trishann Hayes is tied for the team lead with 11 RBIs. The Eagles have had some issues from the circle with a team ERA of 9.12. Freshman Kayla McPeek has been the most durable pitcher with 36 innings pitched and 12 strikeouts. The Camels had a memorable doubleheader in Buies Creek last season. CU was able to run-rule them in both games. In the second game the Campbell offense set a school record with 26 runs scored. The 27 combined runs in the game from both teams was also a school record. The Campbell offensive attack saw six different players' record multi-hit performances including three hits and five driven in from sophomore catcher Taylor McGee. Junior Katie Hinton had a strong day and went 4-for-4 at the plate with four driven in and four scored. Sophomore Christina Melton had a pair of home runs in the game for CU and also threw a one-hitter.

After this weekend the Camels return home briefly and take on Charleston Southern for the third and fourth times this season on March 23 starting at 4 p.m. at the Eakes Athletic Complex. CU is then scheduled to open conference doubleheader play and travel down to Georgia to take on Kennesaw State on March 26 at 4 p.m. and Mercer on March 27 at 2 p.m.