ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Campbell hit three home runs, including a pair from Rachel McCollum, to claim a 5-2 upset victory over top-seeded Longwood in its second game of the 2016 Big South Conference Softball Championship. Katie Baker earned the win in the circle after giving up no hits and striking out three in three and two-thirds innings in relief.
Fifth-seeded Campbell improves to 2-0 in the conference tournament and advances to Friday's second semifinal game at 12:30 p.m. The Camels will take on the winner of Thursday night's contest between No. 4 Radford and the loser of the No. 2 Coastal Carolina and No. 3 Liberty game. Video coverage on Friday can be found on ESPN3 while audio and live stats will be provided on GoCamels.com.
After two scoreless frames to open play, Longwood starting pitcher Elizabeth McCarthy (18-10) sat the Camels down in order in their half of the third. Campbell starter Courtney Roberts gave up a one-out single in the bottom of the inning, and a walk gave the Lancers a runner in scoring position. LWU later scored the first run of the game off a RBI single by Kaylynn Batten.
The Lancers pushed another run across the plate with a Krista Kelly sacrifice fly later in the inning to take a 2-0 lead through three complete. CU quickly cut the lead in half with a solo homer by McCollum in the top of the fourth. Baker entered with one out in the bottom of fourth and left a Lancer stranded at second with a ground out and a fly out.
Megan Mozingo reached base on an error by Longwood third baseman Karleigh Donovan to open the Camels' half of the fifth. Mozingo was replaced by Baker on the bases via a fielder choice before Taesha DuBoise singled. McCollum stepped up to the plate and crushed a homer to dead center field to put Campbell ahead 4-2.
Baker sat the Lancers down in order in the fifth for the first time in the game. Bailey Bjorson smacked a solo home run to center field with two outs in the top of the sixth to give CU a 5-2 advantage. Baker worked around a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth and struck out Justina Augustine to end the threat.
The Camels left the bases loaded in the seventh and missed out on extra insurance runs when Amber Schisler struck out and Caroline Smith flew out. Baker stepped into the circle in the decisive half of the seventh and sat the Lancers down 1-2-3 to complete the upset.
Campbell has now won its last four outings after a doubleheader sweep of Radford to end the regular season. Baker sees her pitching record move to .500 at 11-11 after earning the decision in both postseason victories.
Kelly, Glenn Walters and Kelsey Sweeney each finished 1-for-2 at the plate for the Lancers, with Walters also reaching base via a walk. McCarthy took the loss despite nine strikeouts and just two earned runs on six hits.
