Game Highlights
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell's softball team (27-27,10-9 Big South) held the lead throughout the game until Padgett Harrington hit a pinch hit two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to allow Presbyterian (19-29, 8-11 Big South) to walk away with a 4-3 victory on Friday, April 4, at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.
Junior Brittany Arnn (8-10) was tagged with the loss and allowed both her runs in her 2.2 innings in relief of sophomore starter Olivia Scarborough. Scarborough went the first 4.1 innings and allowed six hits, five walks and two runs (one earned). Presbyterian's Leslie Hensley (10-14) earned the victory with her complete game. She allowed three runs, walked one and fanned five.
Presbyterian threatened in the opening inning and loaded the bases on a single, hit by pitch and walk with only one out. CU was able to turn a nifty double play on a ball ticketed up the middle as CU sophomore second baseman Shaela Churchill fielded the ball, flipped it to freshman shortstop Ericka Nesbitt at second base who tagged the bag and complete the double play with her throw to senior Christina Melton at first to keep the game scoreless.
The Camels capitalized on the potential momentum change with a pair of runs in the opening stanza. Nesbitt reached on a one-out bunt single and moved to second on freshman Stephanie Jones' single. Senior Taylor McGee then put a ball in the gap in right center to plate Nesbitt and Jones with the first two runs of the evening.
CU added a run to the advantage in the third inning. Freshman Kerstine Womack started the frame and legged out an infield single to short. A sacrifice bunt moved her to second and after a strikeout she scored all the way from second on Jones' RBI single to right.
The Blue Hose plated an unearned run in the fourth inning. Shelby Petik drew a lead-off walk. Hensley followed and reached on a throwing error from the CU shortstop. The throw also allowed Petik to move all the way to third where she scored on Rachel Hopper's single.
Presbyterian drew a run closer in the fifth inning. Morgan Durham reached on an infield single and moved to second as Petik was walked. Hensley followed with a single to left to load the bases with only one out. Erin Taylor singled in Durham with her sinking line drive to left field.
The Camels wasted a runner on third with no one out in the fifth inning. Nesbitt reached on an infield single and moved all the way to third as the Presbyterian shortstop threw the ball away on the play. The middle of the CU lineup was retired in order though on a short fly out to right field, a strikeout and pop out on the infield.
The Blue Hose would have tied the game in the sixth if not for a heady defensive play from Nesbitt at shortstop. Jill McLean singled, moved to second a pass ball and then third on Cat Tarvin single to short. On the play Nesbitt's dive kept the ball on the infield. She quickly rose to cut down McLean, who was attempting to score, at the plate with a strong throw to McGee.
PC took the lead for good in the seventh inning with a two-spot. Taylor reached on a fielder's choice and scored ahead of Harrington's home run to left that just hooked inside the foul pole.
Campbell completes the series with a doubleheader against Presbyterian on May 5 starting at noon. The team will also honor its two seniors, Melton and McGee, with a ceremony prior to the first game.
