BUIES CREEK, N.C. – When Emily Carosone was hired as the Campbell University head softball coach on Aug. 20, 2024, she was faced with a daunting challenge.
 
Only eight players returned from the 2024 team that won 37 games overall and the CAA regular season championship with a 22-5 league record.  The NCAA transfer portal was closed.
 
Furthermore, Carosone had to replace the entire starting infield, starting catcher and more than half of the team's innings pitched.
 
Fast forward nine months.
 
Carosone and her staff led the Camel program to a fifth-straight berth in its conference final, a 37-20 overall record, 19-8 CAA mark.  She was one of just eight, first-year head coaches in the nation to compile 30 or more victories.
 
"We knew we weren't going to be the most athletic team on the field," said Carosone, who previously served as Associated Head Coach at Auburn.  "We constantly reminded the players that we aren't the most athletic team out here, but we're going to be the smartest and hardest working."
 
That dedication to fundamentals, mental toughness and a willingness to prepare every day in practice resulted in a fourth-straight season in which the Camels won at least 37 games.  Campbell also won 19 CAA regular season contests, the third-highest league victory total in the program's Division I era (since 1987).
 
"They wouldn't have been as successful this season if they didn't buy-in and adapt quickly; and they did," said Carosone.  "They were able to create their own culture."
 
Last fall, Carosone and her assistant coaches Abby Taylor, Hunter Segars and Xiara Diaz stressed fundamentals, preparation and playing the game the right way.
 
"We went through the finest details constantly," Carosone said of the fall season.  "We taught them how to throw correctly, and hit off the tee, the kind of minute things we go through because we're teachers. We're not just coaches, we have to teach them the game, so they are the smartest team out there."
 
Despite playing with a brand-new infield and starting catcher, the Camels posted the seventh-best fielding percentage of 300 NCAA Division I programs (as of May 18).  Campbell also ranked among the country's top 20 in double plays.
 
"Our defense is a little bit of a different style than most, but (our players) saw that it works.  We make a point of explaining why we do it, there's an efficient way to go through it.  Frame a ball, field a ball, or catch a fly ball."
 
At the plate, Campbell led the CAA in on-base percentage (.406), walks (240) and times hit by pitch (52), while ranking second in the league in runs (5.88 per game) and third in batting average (.296).  Those walks and hit by pitch numbers also rated among the nation's top 16 teams.
 
In the CAA opener Mar. 7 vs. UNCW, Campbell trailed the Seahawks 4-1 with two out and no one on base in the seventh inning.  However, the Camels scored four times on just one single but drew three walks and a hit batter – and stole three bases – in the winning rally.
 
"Intelligent baserunning, timely hitting, being disciplined drawing walks;  our players saw opportunities they gave us and took advantage of them," said Carosone.
 
Campbell won 22 of its first 29 games and started the CAA season 8-0 in league play.  However, injuries started to increase, causing three of the four starting infielders to miss significant time.
 
All the while, Carosone and her staff kept an even keel and put the team in position to contend for a postseason berth.
 
"With all that was coming at us, it was a reminder to our players that we aren't going to make excuses," said Carosone.  "We're not the only team battling injuries.  We as a staff believe we can throw any nine players out there and they're going to get the job done."
 
The Camels entered the CAA Championship as host and fourth seed and opened with a 13-7 win over Stony Brook.  One day later, Campbell outlasted top seed and regular season champion Delaware 3-2 in nine innings.  CU then defeated second-seeded Elon to reach the championship round before ultimately falling to the Phoenix.
 
Despite finishing only one victory shy of an NCAA bid, Carosone and her staff are not satisfied with just getting close.
 
"At the end of the season, expectations were not met," said Carosone, who was a three-time All-American during her playing career at Auburn.  "Our expectations at Campbell are to get to a regional, so that we can get to a super-regional, and put them in the best position to possibly play in the Women's College World Series, which is unheard of for a school like Campbell.  That's our expectation and we're going to do all we can as a coaching staff so that we are in the best position to get there."
 
Still, the list of accomplishments for the Camels was great – especially given the uncertainty facing a team that returned only three position starters from the year before.
 
Senior left fielder Tyra Parker was joined on the All-CAA first team by pitcher Megan Gregory and first baseman Hannah Cornetto, who was also chosen by league coaches as CAA Rookie of the Year.  Junior right fielder Allyiah Swiney was a second-team all-league performer.
 
Parker, Gregory and center fielder Charlie Montgomery were named to the all-tournament team.
 
Individually, Parker led the league with 37 stolen bases and in runs scored (1.0 per game).  Gregory finished second in victories (13) and ERA (1.87).  Middle infielder Alyssa Armijo was second in the nation in times hit by a pitch (19).
 
Parker finished her career with 106 stolen bases, second all-time in Campbell softball history.
 
Off the diamond, 19 Camels earned CAA Commissioner's Honor Roll recognition, and the team posted a 3.469 grade-point average in the spring semester.
 
"Greatest is a way of life," said Carosone.  "Are you going to choose to be great every single day at practice to get where we want to be?  They did. They bought into that. They met those expectations, they were dedicated, disciplined and determined in everything they did."