MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Campbell softball surrendered three runs in the bottom of the fifth en route to a 4-3 defeat to UMass-Lowell Sunday morning to conclude its five-game weekend with at the Wyndham Garden Cougar Classic.
Bailey Bjorson recorded a pair of RBIs and drew a walk for the Fighting Camels in her three plate appearances. She also recorded five putouts, including a second inning throw to third on an attempted steal.
The Fighting Camels escaped a bases loaded first inning as Caroline Smith was able to get a double play and field a putout to end the inning. UMass-Lowell scratched the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning as Tori Alcorn hit her first home run of the campaign, giving the River Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Chandler Patterson was able to get aboard in the top of the fifth inning as she recorded the team's second double of the contest. She advanced to third courtesy of a passed ball from UMass-Lowell pitcher Sydney Wash. In the next at-bat, Bjorson recorded her first RBI of the morning as she flied out to left field, allowing Patterson to score from 60-feet away.
The River Hawks didn't waste time responding to Campbell's run in the top of the fifth, as they scored three times in the bottom half to take a 4-1 lead. After an Marisa Carrasco single and an Alcorn double down the left field line, Brianna West was able to drive home Carrasco with her single to left field. The following batter, Alisha Welch, connected on a single up the middle that scored Alcorn from third and West from first base.
In the top half of the sixth inning, Taesha DuBoise reached base by way of a bunt. She advanced to second after Rachel McCollum grounded out to third baseman. DuBoise also took third during the same sequence of play. After McCollum, Madison Herring tripled down to right field, which scored DuBoise easily.
Syndey Baker reached in the bottom of the six, before relief pitcher Courtney Roberts struck out two consecutive batters and recorded a ground out to conclude the inning. In the top of the seventh, Jessica Anderson reached base with a double to left centerfield, putting her in scoring position. Bjorson brought home Anderson with a single up the middle to cut the deficit to 4-3. Campbell was unable to even up the scoreline despite pinch-hit efforts from Abby Perryman and Melissa Tullar later in the inning.
Caroline Smith picked up her first loss of the season, despite 5.0 innings of work in the circle. Sydney Wash gained her first victory on the season in 6.1 innings of pitching while Marielle Handley received the save.
Campbell returns to action Thursday in Greensboro against North Carolina Central with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.
