BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell's
Destini England, provided late-game heroics in the series finale against Winthrop on Saturday, with a two-out two-RBI triple to center field in the bottom of the seventh giving the Camels a 4-3 victory.
The walk-off improves the Camels' season record to 9-10 and 2-1 in Big South play with Winthrop dropping to 13-13 on the season and 1-2 in the Big South.
Before the walk-off Campbell would jump out to an early lead in the bottom of the first as
Kayla Fredendall's single up the middle would be enough to score England from second for the early 1-0 advantage.
Winthrop would get the run back in the fourth, however, off an Ashley Westbrooks RBI double to left tying the game at one apiece.
Alexa Pagano would provide a quick response for the Camels in the bottom of the fourth though, sending an 0-2 breaking ball over the center fielder's head for an RBI double giving the lead back to the Camels.
The Eagles would counter in the sixth inning with a massive two-run home run to take a 3-2 lead and end the outing for Campbell starter
Georgeanna Barefoot.
Kayla Howald would come in for relief and shut down the Eagle offense giving the Camels a chance for their final inning rally.
Pinch hitter
Claire Blount would single to lead off the inning before being pinch ran for by
Danielle Northrup. The single was followed up by
Diana Parker getting hit by a pitch in the next at-bat and pinch ran for by
Sterling Hairston putting the tying run on second and winning run on first.
A Madeline Whitely ground out to the pitcher would move the runners over to scoring position, before the Eagles recorded the second out of the inning off a
Bri Bryant groundout to the pitcher.
That would leave it all on England who worked the count full before taking a fastball just out of the reach of the Winthrop center fielder to score the winning runs, getting the walk-off 4-3 win.
Kayla Howald (2-4), got the win pitching in relief, going two innings giving up no runs and no hits, striking out two.
Winthrop's Madyson Watson (5-6) would get the loss going six and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs off six hits, earning nine strikeouts along the way.
On Deck
The Camels will host the Bulldogs of N.C. A&T this Wednesday, Mar. 24 at 6 p.m. with the game being streamed on ESPN+.
