BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell softball took the series against Bryant with a pair of wins Saturday afternoon, at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium. The Camels secured game one with a 6-1 victory behind Katie Baker's two-hit performance in the circle. Campbell used a five-run sixth inning to secure the 11-5 victory in game two.
Game 1: Campbell 6, Bryant 1
Baker recorded her first complete game of the season as she allowed two hits and struck out three in seven innings. Amber Schisler hit her team-high ninth home run of the season during the contest.
Neither team were able to get its offense rolling as the pitchers allowed a combined three hits through four innings of play. Campbell found the crack in the wall in the bottom of the fifth as they connected on three base hits; including Schisler's home run to take a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Baker yielded one hit, a solo home run to Kaleigh Goulart, before shutting the door on the Bulldogs offense once again. The Fighting Camels scored four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, recording five hits in the process. With Baker on second and Melissa Tullar on third, Chandler Patterson connected on a double to right field, plating those two runners.
Four batters later with runners in scoring position, Rachel McCollum delivered a two-RBI single, stretching the Campbell lead to 5-1. Madison Herring delivered the sixth run with her RBI single to right field, scoring Schisler from third.
After allowing the first two batters to reach base, Baker shut the door for good on the Bulldogs, finishing the game and earning the win for Campbell. She improved to 2-4 on the season while Elle Madsen took the loss in five innings of work, dropping to 0-3 on the year.
Game 2: Campbell 11, Bryant 5
Five Camels recorded multi-hit outings on the day as Campbell pushed across 11 runs to claim the 11-5 victory in game two against Bryant.
The Bulldogs took their first lead of the day, 1-0, as Maritza Martinez hit a RBI single in the top of the first. Campbell quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs on three hits. McCollum hit her second RBI single of the day, scoring Taesha DuBoise from third base. Three hitters later, Tullar registered a line drive single to right field, allowing a pair of runs to score, giving the Fighting Camels the 3-1 lead.
After a scoreless second, Bryant added two runs in the third inning. Taylor Burger connected on her lone hit of the afternoon, a RBI single to left field, scoring Chaney Jones. A double steal in the next at bat allowed Elle Madsen to score from third base, tying the game at 3-3. The Camels took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning, extending to a 5-3 advantage. Herring, whose RBI double scored McCollum, advanced to third on the throw from the center fielder. The next batter, Tullar, recorded a sac bunt, plating Herring from third base to extend the lead to two runs.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, Bryant added one run in the top of the fifth with Goulart's RBI single, scoring Gianna Pizzano from 60-feet away. Campbell answered the call for the third time in the game as McCollum hit her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to right center, giving Campbell a 6-4 lead.
Bryant scored one run in the top of the sixth, before the Orange and Black scored five runs with nine batters in the bottom of the inning. Bailey Bjorson began the inning with a single and was replaced by Cierra Harris as a pinch runner at first base. After a wild pitch that scored Harris, Leonhardt advanced to third. Schisler delivered a RBI single to left field, scoring Leonhardt and allowing Madison Casto to pinch run for Schisler.
A double steal allowed Casto to score from third base as Herring swiped second. Herring eventually reached third and scored on a throwing error in the same sequence, extending the lead to 10-5. Three hitters later, Tullar hit a RBI single scoring Patterson.
A pair of Campbell errors in the top of the seventh allowed Bryant to get runners in scorring position, before a double play ended the threat without any runs scored.
Schisler gained the win in the circle, pitching the final 4 2/3 innings allowing four hits in her appearance. Colby Norris took the loss in 4 1/3 innings of work, allowing six runs on seven hits.
Campbell concludes the three-game series with game three at noon from Amanda Littlejohn Stadium against Bryant.
