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5/9/2009 - SOFTBALL
Twice is Nice: Campbell Does It Again
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DeLAND, Fla. - Campbell blasted Mercer's hope for a championship off a Taylor McGee homer to take its second consecutive title and automatic bid to the NCAA tournament deafeating the Bears, 1-0, at the 2009 Atlantic Sun Championship presented by Holiday Inn Express. Brittany Stanley earned her second consecutive MVP award.
This is the first time since 2004 that a Championship game has been decided by one run. Last time, No. 1 FAU defeated No. 2 UCF. Campbell defeated Mercer 1-0 in both of the Bears losses.
For the second consecutive day, all of the offense the Camels would need was supplied by All-Freshman selection McGee on a home run. The home run was McGee’s 11th of the season and second in as many at bats in the tournament.
Pitcher of the Year Stanley picked up her eighth consecutive A-Sun tournament win. She threw six strikeouts and surrendered five hits and one walk on 90 pitches. First-Team All-Conference pitcher Jenni Holtz tossed 90 pitches as well striking out five and giving up six hits.
The Camels threatened in the first as Katie Hinton doubled to right center field. Senior Karlie Love was then intentionally walked to put two on base. Holtz then buckled down and retired the next two in order.
The Bears would put together a rally in their half of the second as Emi Sherrill reach on a one-out infield single. Cassy Neilson followed with a bounded single through the infield to put two aboard, but Camel sophomore Keeli Michael made a running catch off a line drive to double off the Mercer pinch runner, Megan Rutherford, at second and end the threat.
Stanley escaped a slight situation in the fifth when Neilson reached on a one-out walk. After Anna Johnson was inserted for her and stole second the junior stiffened and retired the next two to keep the score at 1-0 Campbell.
Mercer nearly tied the game up in the sixth as Holly Oglesbee singled to start the frame, moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on a wild throw off a line out to the third baseman. Stanley again proved to be up to the challenge and was aided by a sliding catch in left field by sophomore Lizzie Goldbach to get out of the inning.
The Camels now await word on where they will head for the NCAA tournament in tomorrow night’s selection show on ESPNU at 10:00 p.m.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
2009 Atlantic Sun Championship All-Tournament Team
Andrea Migliori - Stetson
Jessica Lokeinsky - Stetson
Amy Joyce - Stetson
Whitney Kiihnl - Lipscomb
Lauren Dortwegt - Lipscomb
Kellie Sirus - Lipscomb
Jenni Holtz - Mercer
Cassy Neilson - Mercer
Hilary Wheatley - Campbell
Taylor McGee - Campbell
Tournament MVP
Brittany Stanley - Campbell
