Campbell Returns to CAA Championship Game with 6-2 Semifinal Win over Elon
Dylan Smith
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BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The fourth-seeded Campbell softball team (37-18) will make its return to the CAA Championship game following a 6-2 victory over second-seeded Elon (30-19) on Friday afternoon.
Camels’ starter Megan Gregory unleashed her second complete-game effort of the tournament, going seven innings and allowing just two unearned runs on two hits. The righty also retired eight batters on strikes.
Third baseman
Amber DeSena drove in a game-high three runs in the win. Campbell catcher
Madison Ford drew a trio of walks and scored twice in the effort.
Elon’s
McKenna McCard and Campbell’s Gregory exchanged scoreless first and second frames, each combining for six strikeouts to start the contest.
The Camels registered one run in each of the middle innings, starting with
Tyra Parker slapping an RBI triple into the right-center gap to bring around
Livie Davis in the top of the third. Campbell added another run in the top of the fourth inning with Ford rushing home on a sacrifice fly to left to take a 2-0 lead.
Hannah Cornetto laced an RBI base knock up the middle in the fifth frame, with
Haley Krebs getting her hand across the plate on a close play at the dish for a 3-0 edge for the Camels.
Gregory continued to dominate the circle, facing the minimum through the first four innings. Her only baserunner to that point came in the fourth, surrendering a walk before inducing a 4-6-3 double play to end the frame.
The sophomore slinger retired the first two batters of the fifth before allowing a two-out walk. Second baseman Krebs preserved the no-hitter with her quickness and made a catch on the run behind the bag in center field.
Campbell threatened with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth frame. After Parker worked a nine-pitch walk to put the Camels in that position, Elon’s McCard forced Hannah Cornetto to fly out to right to keep the deficit at three.
The Phoenix broke up Gregory’s no-hit bid in the home half of the sixth with a looping single over the shortstop’s head. With runners on the corners, Kaitlyn Wells cleared the bases to pull second-seeded Phoenix to within one, 3-2.
Swiney had other thoughts when she stepped to the plate in the top of the seventh, unloading on a 2-2 pitch and sending it off the right-field fence and over for a solo shot. The Camels added to their lead when DeSena fired a two-run double over the right fielder’s head for a 6-2 advantage.
Gregory finished off her complete-game outing with a 1-2-3 frame and a strikeout to send Campbell to the CAA Championship game.
Elon will await the winner of Delaware and Hofstra. First pitch of the second semifinal is slated for approximately 5 p.m. from Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.
Wednesday, May 7
Game 1:
No. 4 Campbell 13, No. 5 Stony Brook 7
Game 2:
No. 3 Charleston 5, No. 6 Hofstra 2
Game 3:
No. 6 Hofstra 7, No. 5 Stony Brook 2
Thursday, May 8
Game 4:
No. 4 Campbell 3, No. 1 Delaware 2 (9 inn.)
Game 5:
No. 2 Elon 4, No. 3 Charleston 3
Game 6:
No. 6 Hofstra 3, No. 3 Charleston 0
Friday, May 9
Game 7:
No. 4 Campbell 6, No. 2 Elon 2
Game 8: No. 1 Delaware vs. No. 6 Hofstra - 2:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner of Game 8 vs. No. 2 Elon - 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 10
Game 10: No. 4 Campbell vs. Winner of Game 9 - 12 p.m.
Game 11: If Necessary - 2:30 p.m.
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