CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Campbell played their second and third games of the season on Saturday at the Charlotte Invitational, facing off against Miami (OH), then South Carolina.
Game One – Campbell falls to Miami, 10-2
The Redhawks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Camel error in the first. Miami added another run in the second on a solo home run by Adriana Barlow.
Madilyn Gillespie led off the bottom of the third with a single up the middle.
Claudia Ware singled up the middle as well scoring Gillespie.
Alyssa Henault hit a single of her own, scoring Ware and tying the game 2-2.
The Redhawks quickly answered back with a two-run home run from Karli Spaid and a solo shot by Allie Cummins in the top of the fourth.
An RBI double from Holly Blaska and a two-RBI single from Reagan Bartholomew in the fifth extended the lead. The Redhawks put up three more runs in the sixth to make the score 10-2.
The Camels committed four errors in the game.
Kayla Howald was credited with the loss, pitching 3.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits.
Jaimee Hardy entered the game making her first appearance in the circle this season.
Madilyn Gillespie made her first circle appearance of the year as well getting the last two outs in the top of the sixth.
Brianna Pratt picked up the win for Miami pitching six innings only allowing one earned run and recording six strikeouts.
Game Two – Late Camel comeback comes up just short
South Carolina struck first on an error committed by the Camels in the second making the score 2-0.
In the third, a Campbell error allowed Marissa Gonzalez to reach base and allowed Kyye Ricks to score. Gonzalez scored on a single by Emma Sellers. Sellers then scored on a double by Giulia Desiderio. Brooke Blankenship followed by hitting a two-run home run scoring Desiderio.
The Camels answered back scoring three in the fourth.
Makayla McClain doubled scoring
Allyiah Swiney and
Savannah White singled scoring both McClain and
Mariana Rodriguez, who pinch-ran for
Kayla Thomas.
The Gamecocks tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a double, sacrifice fly, and a single extending the lead to seven, 10-3.
Campbell rallied back in the top of the seventh.
Madilyn Gillespie scored on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and
Erin Rafferty scored on an RBI groundout by
Sterling Hairston.
Makayla McClain hit a three-RBI single then
Lindsey Hunt singled to score McClain cutting the deficit to just one.
Karsen Ochs was able to get
Madilyn Gillespie to fly out to get the last out and prevent the Camels from completing the comeback.
South Carolina dealt
Isabella Smith her first loss with 7 of their 10 runs being unearned. Smith pitched 2.1 innings allowing six hits and walking two.
Bailey Betenbaugh earned the win pitching three innings giving up three runs on one hit.
"Our defense was the difference in both games today," said head coach Trena Prater. "We have to do a better job of consistently having our pitcher's backs. We weren't in attack mode. We are an aggressive team and for some reason today, we second guessed ourselves, in which resulted in uncharacteristic errors."
Campbell committed a total of seven errors in two games.
"I'm proud of the offensive fight that we showed against South Carolina," continued Prater. "We were down 7-1 and rallied back to score eight more runs. We know that we can go toe-to-toe with anyone and we just have to learning and growing from every game. The lessons that we learned from our losses will make us better in the future."
Up Next
Campbell's final game at the Charlotte Invitational has been canceled due to inclement weather. Campbell ends the weekend with a 2-2 record and will host Purdue for the home opener on Thursday at 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
