SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Campbell's softball team (30-27, 11-9 Atlantic Sun) lost its opening game in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament by a 2-1 count to Mercer (31-22, 10 Atlantic Sun) in Spartanburg, S.C. at Cyrill Stadium. The Bears were able to plate a run in the top of the seventh inning to grab the lead for good.

Tiffany Phillips drove in the go-ahead run with her two-out single in the seventh inning to score Kassie Bailey, who started the frame with a lead-off walk.

Freshman Olivia Scarborough (4-4) allowed just a run in six innings of relief. She struck out five and scattered eight hits. Jenni Holtz (12-11) earned the win with four scoreless innings in relief.

Senior Amanda Miller had three of Campbell's five hits on the afternoon.

The Bears broke through for a run in the first inning. Amanda Santa Maria reached on a one-out single. She moved to third on Kassie Bailey's double. Pinch runner Heather Strange scored from third on Kristin Marko's single to right field to give Mercer the early lead.

Campbell picked up its first hit of the game on Miller's two-out single. A strikeout ended the inning though to keep the margin at one.

CU tied the game in the fourth inning. Miller led off the inning with a double off the wall. She came in to score the tying run on senior Lauren Stephan's single up the middle.

Scarborough pitched out of a bases loaded one-out jam in the fifth with a strikeout and pop out to keep the score at one.

Campbell will continue play in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in Spartanburg, S.C. as the fourth seed and take on either third seed USC Upstate or sixth seed Kennesaw State in an elimination game at 10 a.m. on May 12.