ROCK HILL, S.C. –A five-run third inning propelled Campbell to a 6-3 win during Saturday's semifinal elimination game. The Orange and Black are headed into the championship game Saturday afternoon at Terry Field. The Fighting Camels will take on the Lancers of Longwood at 3 p.m.
Roberts pitched a 6 1/3 innings for Campbell, allowing only three runs on six hits. Amber Schisler went 2-for-3, scoring twice including a fifth inning solo home run.
After a quick two innings, Campbell opened up the scoring in the top of the third inning. After a leadoff groundout, Campbell reached six of the next seven batters, scoring five runs in the inning. With Cierra Harris on second and Megan Mozingo on third, Taesha DuBoise connected on a two-RBI single to put the Fighting Camels up 2-0. Courtney Roberts continued to shut down the Highlanders, as she recorded her second inning ending strikeout through three innings.
Rachel McCollum continued the hitting for Campbell, singling thru the left side, advancing DuBoise to third. After Schisler's walk, Caroline Smith singled thru the left side as well, plating DuBoise. Lizabeth McCurry drove in two more runners as her single allowed McCollum and Schisler to come home and put Campbell ahead 5-0.
After a swift fourth inning, Schisler added another run for Campbell in the top of the fifth as she crushed her third home run in two days. Her 16 th home run of the season put the Fighting Camels ahead 6-0. Radford didn't go down without a fight as they scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Back-to-back doubles and a RBI single plated a pair of runs for the No. 4 seed. Katie Baker entered the game with one out in the seventh, as she shut down Radford, allowing one run on a sacrifice fly, to secure the championship berth.
Campbell will face Longwood at 3:00 p.m. Saturday on ESPN3 in the "Winner Take All" Big South Championship game at Terry Field. Campbell will make its first championship game appearance in the Big South since 1993, its last Big South title. In the Atlantic Sun, Campbell won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, its last appearance in a conference championship game.
