BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell's softball team (14-13, 2-0 Atlantic Sun) used a pair of strong pitching outing and some timely hitting to sweep conference rival Mercer (16-10, 0-2 Atlantic Sun) by scores of 3-2 and 6-3 on Saturday, March 19, at the Eakes Athletic Complex. The Camels have now won four in a row and six of the team's last seven games.

Senior Katie Woodcock (4-1) pitched in relief in both games of the doubleheader and earned the win in the first game with 4.2 innings twirled in the first game. She allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out three. She also came in relief in the second game and worked the final inning with a strikeout to preserve the victory. Junior Christina Melton (3-1) was steady in earning the win in the second game with just four hits allowed and five strikeouts.

Sophomore Sarah Ling was the hero in the first game and belted a sinking line drive single in the bottom of the eighth with two outs to drive in senior Katie Hinton. The Camels had loaded the bases in earlier in the inning as senior Keeli Michael and Hinton singled. Senior Amanda Miller then reached herself on fielder's choice sacrifice bunt to put three on base. After a pitching change, Kassie Bailey retired the next two in order and looked to be about to escape the difficult situation when Ling came up with the game-winning heroics that glanced off Anna Johnson's diving glove in the left centerfield gap.

The second game was a scoreless affair until the junior Taylor McGee homered with senior Lizzie Goldbach aboard in the fourth inning. The home run was the third in the career of McGee against Mercer starter Jenni Holtz. The other two home runs she hit came in the 2009 Atlantic Sun Tournament and both were game-winners in 1-0 Campbell wins. Holtz took the loss in the second game and allowed four runs in 4.0 innings worked.

Mercer scored first in the day's first game with two in the sixth inning. Randi Rea started the inning and reached on a fielding error. A bunt single from Jenny Goodman moved her to second. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Rea was then retired on a nice throw to the plate from senior Amanda Miller off the fielder's choice from Amanda Santa Maria. Tiffany Phillips drove in Goodman with her infield single. After Santa Maria was eliminated on a fielder's choice at third base, Allison Jones drove in Phillips with a double.

The Camels tied the game up in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Sarah Forgacs reached on a catcher's interference to begin the frame. Forgacs then stole second and scored on Michael's two-out single up the middle. Hinton followed with a single of her own to score Michael from second, who had advanced a base on the throw home when Forgacs scored.

The game remained tied up Ling's late-game two out magic in the bottom of the eighth.

In the second game, after McGee's home run, the Camels added on four insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. Forgacs began the rally with her single up the middle. Melton then moved her to second with a single up the middle. Freshman Jessi Lane was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no one out. Michael then walked to drive in Forgacs. Hinton then pushed a single through the middle to score Melton and Lane. Michael was thrown out at home on the play as she rounded the bag a little aggressively, got herself in a run down and was tagged out by the catcher. Miller then walked. Freshman Shaela Churchill ran for Miller and stole second as Hinton stole home.

Mercer broke through for a run in the sixth inning on Rea's RBI single to score McKenzie Woody from third.

The Bears kept fighting and scored two more in the top of the seventh inning. Sarah Santana walked. Woodcock was inserted to pitch for senior Lauren Stephan and recorded a strikeout for the first out. Caitlin Peisel then reached on a CU fielding error. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position at the expense of the second out. Sarah Stukes then reached on an infield single. In the confusion of the close play at first both Santana and Peisel were able to score. Rea then singled to bring the tying run to the plate. Woodcock was up the challenge and induced Santa Maria to fly out to end the game.

The Camels host Charleston Southern on Tuesday, March 22, for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.