CLINTON, S.C. - The Camels split today's doubleheader against Presbyterian, but was able to clinch the Big South Regular Season Title, for the program's first title since 2009.
Campbell (24-15, 15-2) dropped game one to PC (14-19, 6-14) 5-1, but mounted a comeback in game two to take the 6-5 victory in the seventh inning to clinch the title.
Along with the regular season championship the Camels earned the No. 1 seed at next week's Big South Championship next week (May 13-15) in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Game one - Presbyterian 5, Campbell 1
The Blue Hose dominated the early game behind pitching from Jenna Greene (7-8) who went a full seven innings only giving up one run off two hits while getting nine strikeouts.
Presbyterian would score the first five runs of the game after an RBI double in the third inning, and errors in the field committed by the Camels in the fifth would see the score run to 5-0.
Claudia Ware would homer to lead off the seventh inning for Campbell, but no further rally would come to be as the Camels fell 5-1.
Campbell's
Megan Richards (8-4) took the complete game loss allowing five runs, only one earned off four hits.
Game two - Campbell 6, Presbyterian 5
The Camels' title clinching win would require late game heroics finding themselves down 5-1 after the Blue Hose posted five unanswered runs across the third and fourth innings.
Bri Bryant would spark the comeback in the fifth with a three-run home run to left center cutting the deficit to two.
Destini England would follow that up with her NCAA leading ninth triple of the season, and was scored by a
Claire Blount double down the right field line.
The Camels looked to tie the game in the sixth inning, as
Zaria Dunlap headed for home on a
Katelyn Chisholm bunt back to the pitcher, but the Illinois transfer would be tagged out at the plate.
Campbell would breakthrough in the final frame as Bryant tripled down the left field line to begin the inning and would score on a
Destini England double down the opposite line.
With two outs, England stole third base and would later score on a wild pitch just getting under the tag at the plate to give Campbell a 6-5 lead.
Pitching in relief,
Kayla Howald would retire the Blue Hose side in order to win the game and title.
Howald (6-4), got the win with three and a third innings pitched, with no runs, hits, or walks allowed in her effort.
Greene, took the loss for Presbyterian coming in to pitch in the seventh inning, giving up two runs off two hits.
On deck
Campbell will finish the three-game series and regular season against Presbyterian tomorrow (May 9) with first pitch at 11 a.m.
