BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The Campbell softball team dropped a close, back-and-forth contest against Towson University, 10-9, on Friday afternoon at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium as a part of the Hampton Inn Invitational. The Camels were able to overcome a 5-2 deficit in the second inning to bring the contest within one run, but ultimately were unable to pull out a win in their first game of the season.
Campbell struck first as senior Kerstine Womack was able to score after a previously earned double in the first inning, along with help from Chandler Patterson on a fielder's error.
However, Towson came out swinging and racked up an impressive five runs alone in the top of the second inning due to multiple errors from Campbell. With what seemed like a commanding lead for the Tigers, the Camels found themselves able to respond.
Starting off the bottom of the second inning with a double, senior Camise Patterson impressively showed her strength in driving the ball far out into left centerfield. Working off of momentum, Bailey Bjorson was then able to single, bringing home Patterson. Brittany Bruce then contributed an RBI to bring the Camels within two runs of the Tigers.
After a scoreless third inning from Towson, the Camels were then given another chance to attempt to catch back up. Stealing the show in the bottom of the third was senior Stephanie Jones after she singled, stole a base, and was then driven home by freshman Lia Batchelor.
With over half of the game complete, senior Ericka Nesbitt was able to mimic Jones' play contributing another single and stolen base. However, it would be Chandler Patterson who blasted her first homerun of the season to center field in order to score both Nesbitt and herself to tie the contest at 6-6 after four innings.
Unfortunately, it would be the Tigers who would tack on another two runs in the fifth inning to once again pull ahead of the Camels who were desperately trying to continue fighting to stay in the game. Pulling away during the sixth inning, the Tigers found themselves ahead by four runs.
With that being said, the Camels refused to throw in the towel. Fighting to tie the game back up, Campbell was able to load the bases and score three runs but sadly lost on a swinging strikeout.
The Camels will return to play on Saturday at 1:00 pm for another chance at a win against Md.-East. Shore.
