BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell softball took a pair of losses Tuesday evening against Coastal Carolina inside Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.
In game one, the Fighting Camels (20-26) were unable to overcome a three-run Chanticleers (28-19) lead, falling 3-1. During game two, Campbell drew within two runs in the bottom of the seventh on Caroline Smith's grand slam and had the tying run at the plate, but it was unable to get any closer, falling 7-5.
Game one: Campbell 1, Coastal Carolina 3
Madison Casto extended her hitting streak to seven games with her single in the bottom of the second inning in Campbell's 3-1 loss to Coastal Carolina in game one.
Courtney Roberts went the distance for the home side, striking out three batters. Casto went 2-for-3 in the game for the Fighting Camels. Campbell's lone run of the contest came in the fifth inning when Rachel McCollum drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Casto from third.
The Chanticleers began the scoring in the top of the first inning as Kelsey Dominik hit a sacrifice fly to left field with runners on the corners. Campbell was able to get two runners on but couldn't even the contest in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the third inning, Bailey Bjorson threw a dart to second to get Bri Chiusano out at second. With the putout, Campbell is the first team to throw out Coastal Carolina on a stolen base attempt this season in 48 attempts.
Two more runs were added by the opposition in the top of the fifth inning, extending its lead to 3-0. A bases loaded walk to Dominik and Mackenzie Conrad's single helped improve the Chanticleers lead to three runs.
The Fighting Camels drew one back in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of McCollum's bases loaded walk. Campbell continued with bases loaded in the inning but a groundout ended the scoring threat.
Campbell was unable to get a hit in the final two innings as Coastal Carolina's Conrad pitched to the minimum amount of batters to finish the contest.
Dominik earned the win, her 15th of the season for the Chanticleers. Roberts' loss puts her at 8-9 on the campaign for the Orange and Black.
Game two: Campbell 5, Coastal Carolina 7
McCollum and Chandler Patterson each went 2-for-4 in game two as Campbell's seventh inning rally fell short droppping the second game of the doubleheader 7-5.
Campbell scored four runs on one swing in the bottom of the seventh as Smith connected on her fourth home run of the season, a grand slam, closing the gap to two runs one out remaining. Patterson was able to get aboard in her at bat, bringing the tying run to the plate, but a strikeout ended the game for Campbell.
The Fighting Camels scored the first run in the game, a RBI double from Melissa Tullar in the bottom of the first inning that scored McCollum from first. Campbell had a pair of hits and bases loaded in the bottom of the second, looking to extend its lead but it was not successful as a pop up ended the inning.
Coastal Carolina gained a pair of base runners in the top of the fourth inning, but it was not able to plate its first run of the game. In the top of the fifth, the Chanticleers received a three-run home run from Morgan Noad to take a 3-1 lead. A two-RBI double and two RBI singles extended the lead for the visitors to 7-1 going into the bottom of the seventh.
Two quick outs for the Fighting Camels in the bottom of the seventh didn't stop the home side from battling back. After Katie Baker and Tullar drew walks, split by a McCollum single, Campbell had bases loaded looking to close the gap. After the Tullar walk, Smith connected on the first pitch of her at bat for the first grand slam of the season for Campbell.
Two batters later, a strikeout ended the game, as Campbell fell 7-5 in game two. Roberts took her second loss of the day, dropping to 8-10, striking out five batters during the second contest. Dominik earned her second win of the day in 6 2/3 innings of work. Casto extended her hitting streak to eight games, going 1-for-1 in game two.
Campbell takes on Coastal Carolina in game three on ESPN3 at 7 p.m. inside Amanda Littlejohn Stadium Wednesday evening.
