BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Towson University softball team began its season on Friday afternoon with a 10-9 victory over Campbell University at the Hampton Inn Invitational. The team's second game of the day against Presbyterian College was cancelled due to weather-related issues.
 
Campbell took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after Kerstine Womack doubled down the left field line to get on base. The Camels' Chandler Patterson reached on a fielding error, allowing Womack to score the game's first run.
 
Towson responded with a strong top half of the second inning, scoring five runs on one hit and two errors. Campbell's Julia Callicutt walked three Tigers; Shelby Stracher, Courtney Johnson and Daria Edwards. The Tigers' Kendyl Scott reached on a fielding error by shortstop Ericka Nesbitt, which allowed Stracher to score Towson's first run of the season. Another error by the Camels allowed Olivia Yarbrough to get on base and scored both Johnson and Edwards, bringing the Tiger lead to 3. Brook Miko recorded two RBIs in her first collegiate at-bat after she singled up the middle, driving home Scott and Yarbrough.
 
The Camels tightened the lead back to three after Camise Patterson and Bailey Bjorson scored in the bottom half of the second. Campbell's Stephanie Jones added another run in the third inning to bring the score within one.
 
Miko had a strong fourth inning, reaching on a fielder's choice before stealing second. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and Stracher singled to shortstop to bring Miko home and tally another Tiger run.
 
Campbell tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning after Chandler Patterson homered to center field and recorded 2 RBIs.
 
Towson regained its lead with a two run fifth inning as Edwards and Scott scored their second runs of the game. Edwards doubled to right field before Scott singled to left field. On the throw in from left field, the two Tigers were able to advance. Yarbrough grounded out to second base for an RBI to bring Edwards in and Miko singled through to the left side for an RBI as Scott scored.
 
The Tigers continued their offensive power, driving in another two runs in the sixth. After Johnson got on base with a walk, Macie McGeehan doubled to left field on a pinch-hit for Reid and moved Johnson to third base. Reid reentered the game to pinch-run for McGeehan. Edwards reached on a costly fielding error by Nesbitt, her second error of the game. The error allowed the Tigers' Johnson and Reid to score and bring the Tiger lead to 10-6.
 
Towson's Megan Dejter who came on in relief of Missy McCormick held strong when necessary in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Camels' tried to tie up the game. The Tigers gave up two late errors, the first by Dejter that allowed Campbell to get in scoring position on second base. The second Tiger error was by Miko that loaded the bases with no outs and allowed the Camels' to score a run. Campbell recorded two more runs to bring the score within one and leaving the runners in scoring position with runners on second and third. Dejter handled the pressure well, striking out the game's final out swinging.
 
Dejter threw three innings and gave up only three runs during that timeframe. She struck out three players in 14 at-bats.
 
The Tigers complete the Hampton Inn Invitational with games against Youngstown State and St. John's on Saturday, beginning at 10:30 a.m.