BUIES CREEK, N.C. – A pair of two-RBI doubles by sophomore third baseman Brittany Bruce (Lumberton, N.C.) and junior designated player Olivia Scarborough (Buies Creek, N.C.) helped Campbell to a 5-2 win over Liberty on Saturday afternoon at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.
The three-game sweep of the Flames was the second of the season for the Camels, who improved to 7-2 in the Big South and 23-12 overall. Liberty dropped to 14-15 on the year and 3-4 in the league.
Another strong pitching performance was registered from freshman Courtney Roberts (Simpsonville, S.C.), who tossed a complete game with nine strikeouts to move to 11-4 on the campaign.
Taking the loss in the circle was Annah Jo Brittingham, who surrendered five runs on six hits in the first 2.1 frames. Chandler Ball completed the contest without yielding a run.
Tallying two hits to lead the Camels was sophomore shortstop Stephanie Jones (Black Mountain, N.C.). Eight players contributed to the nine hits for Campbell in the game including successful pinch hit at bats by sophomores Camise Patterson (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) and Casey Taylor (Lillington, N.C.) in the sixth.
Liberty opened the scoring in the game with a solo homer by Sammi Shivock, who finished the afternoon going 3-for-3 at the plate. Katie Zadvodny extended her hitting streak to 21 games with an infield bunt single in the sixth.
With a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the first, back-to-back singles by Jones and senior right fielder Sarah Forgacs (Cary, N.C.) set the Camels up for a big inning. A hit by pitch to freshman catcher Courtney Klingler (Alvin, Texas) loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly by junior first baseman Raven Lee (Battleboro, N.C.) knotted the contest at one.
Bruce came through with a clutch two-run double for Campbell to make the advantage 3-1 against Liberty.
Behind the plate, Klinger continued to erase would-be base stealers, gunning down her third of the series to end the second.
The Camels struck for two more in the third to extend the lead to 5-1 on a Scarborough double down the left field line. Klingler, who doubled to right center, and Bruce, who reached on an error, came across to score.
In the fourth, the Flames threatened as Jill Stephens and Shivock started the frame with singles, but Roberts continued to keep Liberty off-balance and notched a strikeout to end the threat.
Stevens came around to score the second run of the day for Liberty in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to left by Hannah Nichols after reaching on a fielder's choice.
Campbell wraps up a stretch that included 17-of-20 games at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium on Wednesday against Winthrop with the first pitch at 6 p.m. A video broadcast and live stats can be accessed for that contest with links on the softball schedule page of GoCamels.com
