BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Junior second baseman Amanda Daw (Pantego, N.C.) picked up her first hit with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh in game two to secure a walk-off 4-3 win for Campbell over Liberty. The Camels took game one by the same 4-3 score as freshman pitcher Courtney Roberts (Simpsonville, S.C.) tied the program record with 12 strikeouts against the Flames.
Campbell improved to 22-12 overall and 6-2 in the Big South, while Liberty fell to 14-14 on the year and 3-3 in league play.
The game two decision for the Camels went to sophomore Julia Callicutt (Asheboro, N.C.), who improved to 5-1 on the season with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work. Senior Brittany Arnn (Danville, Va.) tossed the first 5.2 innings and fanned eight.
The scoring started with a two-run homer, the ninth of the year, by freshman catcher Courtney Klingler (Alvin, Texas) in the third inning of game one. Junior first baseman Raven Lee (Battleboro, N.C.), who drove in four runs and has 43 RBI on the season, added to her team-leading home run total with her 12th in game two.
In the third, the Flames' Katie Zavodny reached base on a fielder's choice as the Camels retired the lead runner at third base. She attempted to swipe second, but was denied as Klinger gunned down the Liberty speedster, who has 27 stolen bases, with the tag being applied by Daw.
Liberty was scrappy throughout the doubleheader as a home run by Sammi Shivock, who went 3-for-3 and had two RBI, put the first run on the scoreboard in the first contest to cut the Campbell lead to one, 2-1, with a solo homer to left. The Flames took the lead, 3-2, with two runs on two hits in the fifth.
The response was swift for Campbell as sophomore Stephanie Jones (Black Mountain, N.C.) registered a one-out single to improve to 3-for-3 for the game to start the rally. A single by sophomore third baseman Brittany Bruce (Lumberton, N.C.) up the middle and walk by Klingler put two runners on.
A two-out double to the fence in center by Lee put the Camels on top, 4-3. Chandler Ball threw all six innings for the Flames and fanned two to fall to 5-7 on the year.
Roberts in the circle continued to mix her speeds and fanned four of the final eight Flames to secure the 4-3 victory. The 12 total strikeouts tied the program record that has been achieved twice previously by Kathy Freaney (2/25/00 vs. Morgan State) and Christina Melton (5/5/12 vs. Presbyterian).
Neither team could solve the hurlers in the circle during the first two frames as Arnn and Jo Annah Brittingham kept the bats silent. Klingler continued to impress behind the plate as she caught the second Flames' player, Kelby Allen, of the day trying to steal in the second
The third for Campbell started with a two-out base knock by Bruce through the left side. Klinger registered her second double of the year to put the Camels on the board, 1-0.
Campbell's reworked infield that had every-day centerfield Jones playing shortstop was up to the challenge in retiring the Flames. The Camels totaled 11 assists in the contest with third baseman Bruce and pitcher Arnn pacing the team with three each.
A big boost for the Camels was a one-out home run by Lee to left center to stretch the advantage to 3-0. The Battleboro, N.C., made the Flames pay a price for walking Klingler on four pitches in the at-bat prior.
Four soft singles by the Flames in the sixth knotted the contest at three and ended up chasing Arnn from the circle. Megan Robinson delivered a key two-RBI single for Liberty to push across the game-tying run.
With two runners in scoring position and two outs, Calicutt entered and retired the side on a fly out to center.
Drawing a lead-off walk was Jones, but the momentum in the bottom of the frame changed when she was caught stealing by Allen in an attempt to move into scoring position.
After Callicutt notched two strikeouts and a groundout to end the top of the seventh, Klingler started off a rally by being plunked with a pitch. A single by Lee on a chopper through the left side put the Camels in business.
Moving both runners into scoring position was senior right fielder Sarah Forgacs (Cary, N.C.) with a sacrifice bunt. The Flames decided to intentionally walk junior designated player Olivia Scarborough (Buies Creek, N.C.) and load the bases.
Daw now stepped in the box, who was brought into the game defensively when Arnn exited the circle and Jones moved back to center field. She fouled a couple pitches off before sending a blooper that eluded the converging shortstop, second baseman and center fielder on the edge of the outfield grass for the walk-off victory as Klingler touched the plate.
The loss was credited to Kenize Friesen, who fell to 3-1 on the campaign. Hanna Nichols and Megan Robinson and Allen all tallied two hits during the contest.
Campbell concludes the series on Saturday with the first pitch slated for 12 p.m. at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium. Links to live stats and free audio can be found on the schedule page of GoCamels.com.
