BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell softball dropped both games of its doubleheader at Liberty Friday evening. Game one only went five innings as Liberty won 9-0, while in game two, Campbell was edged 5-4.
Madison Casto extended her hitting streak to five games, going 1-for-3 in game two. Rachel McCollum hit her 10th home run on the season in the top of the seventh in game two.
Game one: Campbell 0, Liberty 9
Liberty used two big innings to defeat Campbell in game one of Friday's doubleheader, 9-0. The Flames scored four times in the first inning and five runs in the third inning.
Karsen Leonhardt went 2-for-2 on the day for Campbell. Along with her, McCollum and Taesha DuBoise registered hits for the Orange and Black.
Campbell connected on two hits in the top of the third inning as Leonhardt singled up the middle. DuBoise recorded her lone hit of the day two batters later, singling and then advancing to second base on the throw to third base by the right fielder. They recorded one hit in the next two innings as McCollum hit a hard single up the middle and Leonhardt doubled to right field.
In the bottom of the first, Liberty's Deidra See hit a two-RBI double to left centerfield and two batters later, Kassidy McCoy recorded a single down the left field line, scoring two runs. The Flames scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning, including four RBIs in three consecutive at-bats. Rylee Reynolds and Jaclyn Amader both hit singles in the inning, which combined for three RBIs.
Katie Baker went 2 1/3 innings and took her 10th loss of the season as she walked four batters and allowed seven runs. Julia Dimartino went five innings, allowing only four hits.
Game two: Campbell 4, Liberty 5
McCollum hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to bring the Fighting Camels within one run but they were unable to tie the game against Liberty, dropping game two 5-4.
Bailey Bjorson went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs for the Orange and Black. DuBoise and McCollum also recorded a RBI for Campbell during the nightcap. Courtney Roberts went the distance, pitching six innings, allowing seven hits and striking out four.
Liberty scored three runs in the first two innings before Campbell knotted the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth. A pair of RBI doubles by the Flames gave them a 2-0 advantage. A RBI single by Jasmeen Click gave them a 3-0 lead after two innings of play.
In the top of the third, Campbell struck for one run after DuBoise hit a RBI double to deep left centerfield. After Bjorson singled to left centerfield, Jessica Anderson pinch ran for the Campbell catcher. Anderson proceeded to swipe second base before DuBoise drove her home.
Bjorson got her second hit of the night, a two-RBI single to right centerfield, scoring Chandler Patterson and Melissa Tullar. After Tullar walked, Patterson singled to right field and Tullar advanced to third. Two batters later Campbell tied the game at 3-3 off the bat of Bjorson.
Liberty broke the tie game in the bottom of the fifth as See recorded a two-RBI single, giving the Flames a 5-3 advantage. Campbell got to within one run as McCollum hit her 10th home run, but a groundout ended the top of the seventh, as Liberty claimed the 5-4 win.
Roberts' loss is her eighth on the season as Dimartino picked up the win in three innings of two-hit work.
Game three is slated for 1 p.m. in Lynchburg on ESPN3 and the Big South Network.
