East Carolina University
Campbell
Campbell Downs East Carolina In Walkoff Fashion
April 05, 2016 | Softball
Box Score | Campbell 3, East Carolina 2 
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - A RBI single off the bat of Taesha Duboise in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Campbell past East Carolina 3-2 on a chilly Tuesday evening at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.
The Camels (17-19) rapped out 10 hits and took advantage of a pair of ECU (18-22) errors while the Pirates racked up seven hits of their own. The teams also combined to leave 18 runners on base.
Junior outfielder Ciara Ervin notched a pair of hits to go along with two runs scored, a run driven in and two walks. Melissa Tullar and Madison Casto tallied a pair of hits apiece to lead Campbell while Tullar tacked on two RBI.
In the circle, freshman RHP Mary Williams (3-9) took the loss surrendering three runs (two earned) on 10 hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Courtney Roberts (6-5) snatched the win in relief, tossing the final two innings without allowing a run and scattering two hits while striking out one.
How it Happened: Ervin put the Pirates on top by a 1-0 margin just a couple of pitches into the contest as she drilled a 3-1 offering over the right field wall. The Camels answered with two runs in the home half via a two-run single up the middle by Tullar. Campbell threatened to add to its lead a couple of times in the subsequent few innings but could not crack Williams who recorded a big strikeout to strand the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth.
ECU had a prime opportunity to sneak in front in the top of the fourth as consecutive singles by senior shortstop Casey Alcorn and senior outfielder Nicole Cheek had runners at the corners with no outs. However, a double play and a groundout left the Pirates empty handed.
East Carolina would knot the score in the top of the fifth when Ervin drew a walk and advanced to second on a double steal attempt before scoring on a RBI single to right center by senior Kelsi Briggs. Briggs would have another opportunity to deliver for the Pirates in the top of the seventh and almost did so, but she flied out to the wall in left field to leave a pair of runners stranded.
The bottom of the seventh began innocently enough with a lineout to third base. However, Casto singled to third base and advanced to second on a wild pitch to set the table for Duboise's heroics. The latter would drive a single through the right side and Casto scampered around third, beating the errant throw home to score the game winner.
Bits and Pieces: East Carolina fell to 35-11 in the series with Campbell and 12-6 against the Camels in Buies Creek … The Pirates dropped to 1-9 on the road in 2016 while Campbell improved to 10-8 at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium … Briggs, who had been used as the catcher and designated player this season, started and remained as the third baseman in the contest … ECU dipped to 14-5 when scoring first and 8-4 when plating a run in the first inning … The Pirates upped their 2016 home run total to 25 - just three short of matching last season's mark … East Carolina has hit a long ball in five of its last eight contests.
Up Next: The Pirates return home this weekend (April 8-10) for a three-game American Athletic Conference series against Memphis at the ECU Softball Stadium.
