BUIES CREEK, N.C. – A capacity crowd of 390 fans at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium witnessed Campbell go toe-to-toe against North Carolina on Wednesday evening with the difference being three first-inning runs for the Tar Heels. The Camels had their opportunities, but left eight runners on the base paths.
After the first inning, freshman hurler Courtney Roberts (Simpsonville, S.C.) settled down and struck out a game-high seven batters for Campbell (20-12). Improving to 14-9 on the season for North Carolina (23-12) was Lori Spingola with five strikeouts in the complete game.
North Carolina started quickly with three runs on four hits during the first. A Haleigh Dickey single through the left side following a one-out walk to Erin Satterfield put pressure on the Camels' defense early.
Coming through with a clutch RBI double off the fence in left was Amber Parrish to put North Carolina up 1-0. Constance Orr registered a two-RBI single up the middle to build the advantage to 3-0.
Following a single through the left side by Kristen Brown to put runners on the corners, Campbell's defense made a big play for the second out as freshman catcher Courtney Klingler (Alvin, Texas) made a perfect throw to second as junior shortstop Shaela Churchill applied the tag to catch the runner stealing.
The first strikeout by Roberts ended the Tar Heel threat. Campbell came to the plate with senior right fielder Sarah Forgacs (Cary, N.C.) starting the bottom-half off by being hit by a pitch.
Delivering an infield single was Klingler and sophomore center fielder Stephanie Jones (Black Mountain, N.C.) loaded the bases with a two-out walk, but the Camels were unable to cut into the deficit.
Sophomore third baseman Brittany Bruce (Lumberton, N.C.) made a heads up play with a runner on first in the fourth by cleanly picking up a would-be sacrifice bunt and throwing to second to retire the lead runner.
The Camels had an opportunity in the fourth with a one-out single by junior designated player Olivia Scarborough (Buies Creek, N.C.) and Churchill being plunked by a pitch to place two runners on base. Spingola rebounded in the circle for the Tar Heels and retired the side on back-to-back strikeouts.
Churchill at short came through with a fantastic play for Campbell to end the fifth, adjusting by coming back toward the infield in foul territory as she fell to her knees to end the frame.
North Carolina threatened for the final time in the sixth as the leadoff runner reached second on a walk and stolen base. Roberts was up to the task in recording consecutive strikeouts to keep the deficit at just 3-0.
In the last at bat for the Camels, Churchill continued a fantastic game with a lead-off single to left. A one-out hit by pitch brought the game-tying run to the plate before two ground outs secured the North Carolina win.
Campbell resumes Big South action on Friday with a doubleheader against Liberty at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium beginning at 4 p.m. The finale of the three-game set is on Saturday with the first pitch at noon. A link to a free audio broadcast can be found on the schedule page of GoCamels.com.
