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Colleges

Eight-Run Sixth Leads Campbell Softball over Middle Tennessee, 11-6

Feb 17, 2013

Buies Creek, N.C. — The Campbell softball team needed some late-inning magic and scored eight runs on seven hits during the sixth to secure a come-from-behind victory against Middle Tennessee, 11-6, in the final game of the Georgia Classic on Sunday afternoon at Jack Turner Stadium.

Campbell finished the tournament at 2-2 and improved to 6-2 on the young season, while the Blue Raiders dropped to 0-5 on the campaign.

Sophomores shortstop Ericka Nesbitt (Salisbury, N.C.) and center fielder Stephanie Jones (Black Mountain, N.C.) each notched three hits and two RBI. Driving in a game-high three runs was freshman catcher Courtney Klingler (Alvin, Texas).

Blasting her second home run of the year in the sixth was senior right fielder Sarah Forgacs (Cary, N.C.). Jones also registered her first triple on the season, while sophomore third baseman Brittany Bruce (Lumberton, N.C.) and Nesbitt each tallied a single.

In the circle, junior Olivia Scarborough (Buies Creek, N.C.) tossed the final 2.1 frames and fanned one to move to 2-0 on the campaign. The starter was sophomore pitcher Julia Callicutt (Asheboro, N.C.), who totaled six strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work.

Middle Tennessee was efficient on offense with three hits leading to five runs, taking advantage of six free passes. Laura Dukes blasted a three-run shot, while Nina Dever picked up two hits.

The loss was credited to Caitlin McClure, who did not record an out and gave up five runs in the sixth. Jordan Fisherback started for the Blue Raiders and pitched six innings and struck out seven.

The Camels begin the contest on the field as Calicutt sent down the Blue Raiders in order with two strikeouts. Nesbitt led off the bottom-half of the first with a double to extend an 18-game hitting streak and put Campbell on top 1-0 following a Jones single through the left side.

In the third inning, Middle Tennessee put up five runs taking advantage of four walks and two hits to take a 5-1 advantage. Fueling the rally was Duke with a homer, her third of the tournament against Campbell.

With some help from the Blue Raiders in the bottom of the inning, Christopher reached as the leadoff batter, and Nesbitt beat-out an infield single. Moving the runners into scoring position was Bruce with a sacrifice bunt.

Following a fielding miscue off the bat of Klinger, Jones singled up the middle to bring the deficit to 5-3 at the end of three.

Middle Tennessee tacked on an insurance run in the fifth to take a 6-3 lead.

The eight-run sixth began with a triple to left by the speedy Jones. A momentum-changing home run by the next batter, Forgacs, cut the deficit to just one, 6-5.

Following a walk drawn by Lee and a fielding miscue, sophomore left fielder Camise Patterson (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) loaded the bases with a single to right. Freshman pinch-runner Haley Haselden (Aynor, S.C.) scored on a bases loaded walk issued to sophomore second baseman Maggie Christopher (Awendaw, S.C.) knotted the contest at six.

As the lineup turned over, Nesbitt delivered a two-RBI single up the middle, and Bruce doubled home another run to provide the Camels with a 9-0 lead. Singling to center was Klingler to tack on two additional runs, 11-6.

Scarborough secure the victory by retiring the Blue Raiders with two ground outs and a fly out.

Campbell plays its first mid-week contest on Tuesday at Elon with the first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Camels next home contest is a the Camel Stampede on Mar. 8-9 at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.