HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Campbell softball team was unable to come back in its final at bat after Memphis retook the lead 6-4 following a two-run sixth to open the Bank of Hawaii Invitational on Friday afternoon at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The Camels out-high the Tigers, 9-to-8, during the contest with sophomores shortstop Ericka Nesbitt (Salisbury, N.C.) and center fielder Stephanie Jones (Black Mountain, N.C.) notching multiple hits.
A two-run fifth for Campbell (8-4) was sparked by solo home runs by Jones and junior first baseman Raven Lee (Battleboro, N.C.) to knot the game at six, but the Camels let an opportunity to take the lead against Memphis (6-9) slip by after leaving the bases loaded.
In the circle, freshman Courtney Roberts (Simpsonville, S.C.) was credited with the loss, but did not give up an earned run in 2.1 innings of relief. The starter was junior Olivia Scarborough (Buies Creek, N.C.), who logged 3.2 innings and gave up four runs.
Memphis was led by Laura Curtis and Ijah Hargrove with two hits and one RBI each at the bottom of the order. Ellen Roberts (3-5) earned with win, striking out two hitters in 1.2 innings of the bench. Jordan Richwood started the contest and Sara Pearson pitched one inning of relief.
The first began for Campbell with a single to left by Nesbitt. After freshman catcher Courtney Klingler (Alvin, Texas) was hit by a pitch, Jones registered a base knock to right, loading the bases. Only one run was pushed across after a two-out walk drawn by Lee.
In the bottom of the second, the Tigers struck for three runs as Kelly Braman, Amber Lindahl, Curtis and Hargrove notched singles to take a 3-1 advantage.
Memphis threatened again in the third as Morgan Mosby and Kelley Braman reached on infield singles and a walk. With one out and the bases loaded, Scarborough made a fantastic defensive play in the circle by snagging a liner and tossing the ball to first, completing the first double play of the season for Campbell to keep the score at 3-1.
A pair of walks to sophomore second baseman Maggie Christopher (Awendaw, S.C.) and Nesbitt provided the Camels with an opportunity in the fourth. A ball put into play by Bruce enabled for Campbell to cut the lead to 3-2 following two defensive miscues.
The Memphis fourth started with a triple to right center by Hargove, who scored on a groundout to bring the Tigers lead back to two, 4-2.
In the fifth, the Camels offense awoke as Jones led off the frame by connecting on a solo homer to straight-away center, her third of the campaign. Lee knotted the contest at four with a towering shot to left to round the bases for the sixth time this season.
After Christopher drew a walk, sophomore left fielder Kerstine Womack (Broadway, N.C.) and Nesbit notched singles through the infield to load the bases. Campbell was unable to take the lead as a fly out ended the threat.
A one-out double by Curtis provided the Tigers with a runner at second with one out in the bottom of the sixth and a throwing error on a sac bunt gave them the lead, 5-4. Perry tacked on an insurance run with a single to center.
The Camels had the tying run at the plate following a two-out walk drawn by Nesbitt, but Memphis was able to retire the side to earn the victory.
Campbell continues the three-day tournament on Sunday with a doubleheader against Western Kentucky and No. 20 Hawaii beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern.
