No. 3 Seed Campbell Walks Off in 4-3 Win Over No. 6 Seed Elon; to Face UNCW on Thursday
Dylan Smith
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | PHOTO GALLERY | HIGHLIGHTS
ELON, N.C. – Campbell (33-21) walked off in the seventh inning to secure a 4-3 victory over sixth-seeded Elon (18-32) and advance in the winner’s bracket of the 2026 CAA Softball Championship at Hunt Softball Park on Wednesday.
The Camels’ Janel Day drew a walk to open the seventh before moving to third on a Hannah Cornetto single. Haley Krebs took care of business and bounced the ball to the right side of the infield, allowing pinch runner Livie Davis to cross home plate for the win.
Amber DeSena led the Camels’ charge with a three-hit day, scoring a run along the way. Allyiah Swiney and Cornetto chipped in a pair of base knocks and a tally of their own, seeing the latter walk twice and drive in a run.
The Phoenix broke through first and took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame behind a two-out rally. Jenna Klein laced a single up the middle before Teagan Baulsir ripped a double to the center-field wall to bring her teammate around to score.
Campbell responded in the bottom of the second with a two-out surge of their own. Cornetto drew a walk and All-CAA First Team selection Krebs looped a single into left to put runners on first and second. Emma Slutzah painted the right-field line with an RBI single, tying the game at one and keeping the threat alive with runners on the corners. Elon’s Chloe Hatzopoulos saved the inning from being blown open with a full extension dive in left field to end the frame.
Camels’ second baseman Kylie Specht returned the favor defensively, reeling in a looping fly ball over her shoulder to end the fourth frame and stay tied at one.
The Phoenix broke the deadlock with a two-spot in the top of the fifth, working the bases loaded with two outs. Mary Moss Wirt turned on a 1-1 pitch and laced it into right-center to bring across two runs and give Elon a 3-1 edge.
Elon’s Kyra Leonard worked her way in and out of trouble in the sixth inning. After allowing a pair of walks and a base knock, the lefty threw an off-speed pitch and forced a swing-and-miss to get out of trouble unscathed.
The Camels will return to action on Thursday, May 7, when they take on second-seeded UNCW at 2:30 p.m. The Phoenix is currently facing No. 4 seed Stony Brook at Hunt Softball Park.
Wednesday, May 6
Game 1:
No. 5 Charleston 5, No. 4 Stony Brook 1
Game 2:
No. 3 Campbell 4, No. 6 Elon 3
Game 3: No. 4 Stony Brook vs. No. 6 Elon - 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 7
Game 4: No. 1 Hofstra vs. No. 5 Charleston - 12 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 UNCW vs. Winner of Game 2 - 2:30 p.m.
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Lower Seed of Games 4 & 5 Losers - 5 p.m.
Friday, May 8
Game 7: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5 - 12 p.m.
Game 8: Winner of Game 6 vs. Higher Seed Games 4 & 5 Losers - 2:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner of Game 8 vs. Loser of Game 7 - 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 9
Game 10: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 - 12 p.m.
Game 11: If Necessary - 2:30 p.m.
Follow #CAASoftball on
Facebook,
Twitter, and
Instagram to get up-to-date information and learn more about CAA member institutions and their softball programs.