BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Campbell softball team (4-4) got into an early deficit and fought back to bring the tying run to the plate in the last inning, but fell 8-6 to St. Joseph's (2-2) in the final game of the Camel Stampede. Even with the loss, the Camels win the tournament based on an earlier head-to-head win over Ohio, who also had a 3-1 record in tournament play.

The Camels trailed the Hawks by an 8-4 margin entering the final inning. Christina Melton started the frame with a single. She moved to second on a ground out. After Katie Woodcock was inserted to run for Melton and Katie Hinton was hit by a pitch to put two aboard, Taylor McGee's two-out fly out was dropped to score Melton and Hinton and make the score 8-6. The final out was then record by pitcher Dani Gonzales to preserve the two-run victory.

The Hawks scored first with a pair scampering home in the first inning on a fielding error by the CU pitcher and a wild pitch. Further damaged was diverted as Hinton made a great running catch against the wall of a Gonzales drive with runners on second and third.

St. Joseph's added to its lead in the third inning with three more runs. Laura Cardone walked to start the frame and came all the way in to score on Monica Aquliar's triple down the right-field line. Aguliar came in to score herself on Brooke Darreff's sacrifice fly. Dana Bieniek then doubled and scored the fifth run on Erika Rosenwinkel's single in the gap. The damaged could have been worse if relief pitcher Brittany Stanley didn't strikeout the final two Hawks batters with the bases loaded.

The CU offense got two back in the top of the fourth as Hinton walked and McGee reached on fielder's choice. Karlie Love then on drove a 3-2 offering into the mist that had formed in the left-field corner to score Hinton and McGee to make the score 5-2.

The Hawks offense got the two back almost immediately. Cardone walked and was on base for Aguliar's two-run home run. SJU added another in the frame as Rosenwinkel drove in pinch runner Heather Brabazon for the eighth run.

CU's McGee cut the deficit in half, 8-4, with her two-run home run with Hinton on in the top of the sixth.

Melton took the loss for Campbell as she surrendered three earned runs in 2.1 innings in the circle. Gonzales picked up the win for St. Joseph's.

Campbell will continue the homestand and welcomes in North Carolina Central for a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Feb. 17 at the Eakes Athletic Complex.

Camel Stampede All-Tournament Team

P-Lauren Stephan (Campbell)

P-Dani Gonzales (St. Joseph's)

C-Taylor McGee (Campbell)

IF-Megan Lombard (Charleston Southern)

IF-Alyssa Okita (Bucknell)

IF-Brooke Morgart (Ohio)

IF-Karlie Love (Campbell)

OF-Melissa Bonner (Ohio)

OF-Laura Cardone (St. Joseph's)

OF-Shay Petrich (Ohio)

OF-Katie Hinton (Campbell)

Most Outstanding Player- Karlie Love (Campbell)

Records

1^st- Campbell 3-1 (defeated Ohio head-to-head)

2^nd Ohio 3-1 (lost to Campbell head to head)

3^rd St. Joseph's 2-2

4^th Charleston Southern 1-3 (defeated Bucknell head-to-head)

5^th Bucknell 1-3 (lost to Charleston Southern head-to-head)