KENNESAW, Ga. - Senior Brittany Stanley was able to
aid Campbell's softball team (13-17-1, 1-1 Atlantic Sun) salvage a
split of its conference doubleheader with Kennesaw State (15-12,
1-3 Atlantic Sun) with a complete game one-run performance. CU won
the second game by a 5-1 score after dropping the opening game by
an 8-0 run-shortened margin.
Stanley (5-7) was able to pick up her fifth consecutive win and set
a new Campbell career victory mark in the performance. The win was
the 61st of the senior's career. The loss went to Abbey Meixel
(4-7), who allowed four runs in one-third of an inning. Junior Lauren
Stephan had two RBIs in the second game for CU.
1st
Game
The Camels gave up six unearned runs in the first game. Sophomore
Christina Melton (6-5) was
the tough luck loser as she gave up three unearned runs in 1.1
innings thrown for CU. Jessica Cross (9-3) limited the Camels to
three hits in throwing an 8-0 shutout in the first game.
The Owls plated a run in first on the throwing error from the
Campbell third sacker with Klair Wells on third base with two outs.
Wells started the game with a lead-off walk. She moved to second on
a pass ball and third on a fly out.
The Kennesaw State attack was back at it again in the second inning
with five more runs. Kelsey Kulk reached on a one-out single. She
took second as Jensen Hackett was hit by a pitch. Both runners
moved up a base on a wild pitch from junior CU reliever Lauren
Stephan. After a strikeout, another throwing error from the
Campbell third baseman brought in Kulk and Hackett with the second
and third runs of the game. Ashlee Burkett then pushed a single to
third and both her and Wells, who reached on the error, came in to
score on the home run from Cross.
KSU added two more runs in the third inning. Karlie Gillam and Kulk
singled to lead off the inning. After the next two outs were
recorded in order, Wells pushed a single up the middle to score
Gillam and Kulk with the seventh and eighth runs of the game.
The Camels attempted to mount a rally in the fourth inning. Melton
reached on a fielder's choice. Sophomore Taylor McGee then
punched a double to the gap to move Melton to third. A walk to
junior Katie Hinton loaded the
bases. Cross was able to get out of the one-out jam unscathed and
induced a short fly out and ground out to keep the score at
8-0.
Game
2
CU, after getting shutout in the first game, exploded for four runs
in the opening inning. Freshman Sarah
Forgacs led off the second game with a triple. Melton brought
her in with a one-out single down the right field line. McGee
reached on a fielding error from the KSU shortstop. A single from
Leathers loaded the bases. Junior Lauren Stephan then
clobbered a line drive to the gap to plate Melton and McGee with
the second and third runs of the game. Junior Amanda
Miller was able to drive in Leathers with a sacrifice fly to
left for the fourth run of the first inning.
The KSU attack got a run back in the third inning. Wells led off
the frame with an infield single and circled the bases on Burkett's
triple. Stanley was able to limit the damage though and induced
three straight infield pop outs to Miller at shortstop to keep
Burkett at third.
The Owls threatened in the sixth inning. Swanson reached on a
fielder's choice. She was quickly doubled off on the line drive
double play to junior Katie Hinton in center
field. Hinton's throw was spot on to senior Cassie Webb at first
base to complete the double play.
CU added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Freshman Sarah Ling started
the frame with a pinch hit walk. A one-out walk to junior Keeli
Michael moved her to second. Freshman Sarah
Forgacs then punched a single to center to load the bases.
Hinton drove in Ling with an RBI ground out.
The Camels will continue the conference road trip and head off to
Macon, Ga. to take on the Mercer Bears on March 27 at 2 p.m.
