CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Campbell opened its 2023 campaign at the Charlotte Invitational, earning wins over East Tennessee State and Charlotte. 
 
Game One – Campbell defeats East Tennessee State, 8-4
 
The Campbell starting lineup featured five new faces including four freshmen and one transfer in game one with redshirt junior Kayla Howald getting the start in the circle. 
 
The Buccaneers started off hot scoring three runs in the top of the first inning with a two-run home run from Muir and a solo shot from Nayadley. Then adding another run in the top of the fourth when Kasidy Dunn scored on a groundout by Jasmine Sanchez. 
 
Kayla Thomas hit a one-out single in the bottom half of the fourth, followed by Madilyn Gillespie and Savannah White both being hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Freshman Allyiah Swiney then blasted a grand slam over the center field wall tying the game 4-4.
 
The Camels took the lead in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from Claudia Ware. After a walk and a steal, Charlie Montgomery scored on a sacrifice fly by Lindsey Hunt. Freshman Makayla McClain then hit an opposite field two-run home run to make the score 8-4.
 
Isabella Smith picked up the win after coming in to pitch in the fifth inning, allowing only two hits and striking out four across three innings. 
 
Game Two – Camels down 49ers in 12 innings
 
The Camels got on the board early when Makayla McClain reached on a fielder's choice and Alyssa Henault came in to score on a throwing error by Charlotte in the top of the first inning. 
 
Charlotte's Bailey Vannoy hit a leadoff double in the third and later scored off a single from Kassidy Krupit to make it a 1-1 game. 
 
Both teams had multiple chances to put a run on the board as they left a combined 22 runners on base. Campbell had runners on second and third in both the sixth and seventh innings and was unable to knock in a run. Charlotte stranded 5 runners in scoring position.
 
The Campbell bats came alive in the 12^th. Claudia Ware lead off the inning with a stand-up double. Alyssa Henault then laid down a sacrifice bunt, allowing Ware to score. Hairston singled over the shortstop scoring Henault and Makayla McClain. After a single from Allyiah Swiney, Savannah White doubled off the left-center wall scoring Hairston and Swiney giving the Camels a 6-1 lead.
 
After pitching three innings in game one, Isabella Smith pitched all 12 innings in game two tallying 11 strikeouts on 199 pitches while only allowing one run on six hits earning her second win of the day. 
 
Smith's 199 pitches set a record for most pitches in a single game by a Campbell pitcher. She passed former Campbell and now Charlotte pitcher Georgeanna Barefoot who threw 198 pitches in a 2-1 win over Longwood on April 24 of last year. 
 
Up Next 
 
The Camels take on Miami (OH) at 3:00 p.m. and South Carolina at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow for day 2 at the Charlotte Invitational.  Live stats will be available for both games.