Campbell Moves On with 9-4 Victory over UNCW; to Face Charleston on Friday
Dylan Smith
BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY
ELON, N.C. – Hannah Cornetto and Charlie Montgomery provided timely hits to help third-seeded Campbell (34-21) advance in the winner’s bracket with a 9-4 victory over second-seeded UNCW (31-18) in the 2026 CAA Softball Championship at Hunt Softball Park on Thursday.
Cornetto drove in a pair of early runs for the Camels, while Montgomery logged a 2-for-4 showing at the dish. The CAA Player of the Year scored twice and smacked a crucial two-run triple in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach. Four additional Camels also drove in at least one run on the evening, including a 1-for-2 showing from Kylie Specht with two tallies.
Freshman pitcher Katelyn Hubley notched her 19
th victory of the season with a complete-game effort. The All-CAA First Team selection struck out seven batters in as many innings, while retiring 10 of the final 11 batters she faced.
After a scoreless opening frame and a lengthy rain delay, the Camels took advantage in the top of the second with a two-spot on the board. Campbell loaded the bases prior to a 58-minute halt to action, only for Cornetto to draw a four-pitch walk when play resumed to bring home the game’s first run. Emma Slutzah smacked a grounder to second and brought Janel Day around to score for a 2-0 lead.
The Camels increased their advantage to five after three straight singles from Montgomery, Specht and Madison Ford scored the first run of the third inning. Day laced a sacrifice fly to left-center that brought Specht in from third before Cornetto looped an RBI base knock to right for a 5-0 edge.
UNCW responded in the bottom of the fourth inning with two runs of its own. Allison Corbin and Sierra Persinger laced back-to-back knocks to open the frame, followed by an infield single from Averie Daughtry to load the bases. Peyton Carver took her second offering into the left-center gap and drove in a pair of runs to make it a 5-2 contest. Campbell’s Montgomery halted the Seahawks’ scoring surge with a laser-like throw to third, catching Daughtry trying to get there from first.
After seeing reliever Lynsie Herman blank Campbell for the second consecutive inning, UNCW registered two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ava Brookshire and Cassidy Relay drew consecutive walks before Madison Biddle ripped an RBI single to center. Following a Corbin walk, the Seahawks capitalized on a throwing error to make it a one-run game, 5-4.
The Camels retaliated with four runs in the top of the sixth after loading the bases with one out. Devin Davis scored on a wild pitch before Montgomery drilled a two-run triple down the right-field line to take an 8-4 lead. Specht finished off the inning with a sacrifice fly to center to go up five, 9-4.
Hubley came back out for the seventh inning and induced a pair of groundouts to third base to close out the winning effort.
The Camels will return to action on Friday, May 8, for a 12 p.m. showdown against fifth-seed Charleston. UNCW is currently facing Stony Brook in an elimination game.
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 5, No. 6 Elon 3
Thursday, May 7
Game 4:
No. 5 Charleston 4, No. 1 Hofstra 2
Game 5:
No. 3 Campbell 9, No. 2 UNCW 4
Game 6: No. 4 Stony Brook vs. No. 2 UNCW
Friday, May 8
Game 7: No. 5 Charleston vs. No. 3 Campbell - 12 p.m.
Game 8: Winner of Game 6 vs. No. 1 Hofstra - 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.
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