UNCW Wins 2024 CAA Softball Championship with Seventh-Inning Comeback
Miles McQuiggan
WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 11, 2024) – UNCW scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally past Campbell and win the 2024 CAA Softball Championship in a winner-take-all Game 11 at Boseman Field.
Game 9: No. 1 Campbell 4, No. 2 Delaware 3
Campbell struck first in the resumption of a suspended game and held off a Delaware rally to advance to the Championship round.
Delaware (39-14) scored two in the top of the first inning on a two-run single by
Chloe Blantz and Campbell (36-20-1) answered with two runs in the bottom of the third – the first on an RBI double by
Brooke Carey and the tying run on an RBI single by
Madilyn Gillespie.
The game was suspended Friday night after three innings due to field conditions and additional anticipated weather and picked back up Saturday at noon.
Campbell broke the deadlock upon the resumption off the bat of
Lindsay Lumsden, as the CAA Rookie of the Year launched a home run to left to give the Camels a 3-2 lead. A bases-loaded walk drawn by
Alyssa Henault in the sixth doubled the advantage.
Delaware got one back on a ground ball double play in the seventh, but the 6-4-3 brought Campbell within one out.
Isabella Smith struck out Blantz looking to end the game and send Campbell to the Championship round.
Smith allowed a run on three hits in four innings of relief for the victory;
Morgan Hess was saddled with the loss for Delaware in relief.
Game 10: No. 1 Campbell 2, No. 4 UNCW 1
Campbell scored a pair of early runs and held on to force a winner-take-all game in the CAA Championship.
Campbell (37-20-1) scored the game’s first run in the top of the first, loading the bases before
Brooke Carey brought in
Alyssa Henault on a sac fly. The Camels doubled the lead an inning later via a Henault sac fly that scored
Allyiah Swiney.
UNCW (32-21) got back a run in the bottom of the third, as a heads-up baserunning play by
Tayler Vitola allowed her to score on a throw down to first for a dropped third strike.
UNCW threatened in the fifth with runners at second and third with no outs, but a sinking squeeze attempt was snared by
Delaney McDilda, who turned around and doubled the runner off third to help end the threat.
Isabella Smith went the distance, allowing an unearned run on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
Emily Winstead threw all seven innings for UNCW with two runs allowed on nine hits and two walks.
Game 11: No. 4 UNCW 3, No. 1 Campbell 1
UNCW rallied for three runs in a wild seventh inning to capture the CAA Softball Championship.
UNCW (33-21) broke up a no-hitter to start the inning on an infield hit by
Morgan Britt and the ensuing rally came without any further base hits.
Mary Sobataka was hit by a pitch,
Allison Corbin walked, and Britt was forced out at the plate on
Madison Biddle’s fielder’s choice.
Lauren Cope grounded a ball to short and the throw sailed to the backstop, plating Sobataka and Corbin to put UNCW in front, 2-1.
Jentri Meadows grounded back to the circle to allow a third run to score.
Campbell (37-21-1) scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the sixth via an RBI single from
Lindsay Lumsden before the UNCW comeback in the seventh.
Hannah Leierer allowed no hits through six innings before departing for
Isabella Smith two batters into the seventh.
Kara Hammock went the distance for UNCW, allowing one run on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
All-Tournament Team
Kara Hammock, UNCW (MOP)
Madison Biddle, UNCW
Mary Sobataka, UNCW
Skylar Stockton, UNCW
Lindsay Lumsden, Campbell
Isabella Smith, Campbell
Allyiah Swinney, Campbell
Julia Boyet, Delaware
Emily Winburn, Delaware
Julia Apsel, Hofstra
Aliya Catanzarita, Hofstra
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