SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Charleston Southern dropped a pair of games in a rematch vs. the USC Upstate Spartans, suffering 3-1 and 5-3 losses Thursday, at Cyrill Stadium. The Bucs couldn't string together much on offense, recording just two hits in game one and stranding nine runners in game two. With the losses CSU dropped to 15-14-1 on the year, while Upstate improved to 13-4.

Megan Hall paced the offense, going 4 for 4 on the day and drawing three walks, for an on base percentage of 1.000. Jana Matthews had a pair of extra base hits in game two, including a solo homerun for her fifth homerun of the year. Trea Steele also chipped in with two hits, a walk and a RBI.

CSU went up against a tough pitcher in game one, with Morgan Childers of Upstate coming in to the game with a 9-2 record and 0.57 ERA. The Bucs had a runner in scoring position in the first with one out, after Hall was walked and stole second, but couldn't convert any runs. Childers tallied three strikeouts in the first to get out of the jam.

Sondra Vetter started in the circle for the Bucs, throwing well to start the game. Vetter held the Spartans scoreless in the first two innings, despite an early error in the first. CSU had the leadoff batter on base in the top of the third, after Steele drew a walk. The Bucs couldn't take advantage again however, lining out in to a double play that ended the inning.

Upstate reached the scoreboard first, posting two runs in the bottom of the third, after two hits in the innings. Crislyn Chewning started a two out rally, recording a single to left field. Ericka Harris made CSU pay, using a two run homerun to give the Spartans a 2-0 advantage. Upstate added one more to their lead in the fifth, after three hits to load the bases and a walk that scored the run.

The Spartans carried a 3-0 lead in to the sixth inning, with Childers working on a no-hitter. Hall broke up the no-no in the sixth, tallying CSU's first hit to put two on with one out. Childers bounced back however, using a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.

The Bucs had one last rally in them, testing the Spartans in the top of the seventh. CSU had Kelleher reach base with a walk, followed by Peters-Brock being hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Steele came up with the second Buccaneer hit of the game to load the bases with one out. A Melissa Adams RBI groundout gave CSU a run to cut in to the lead. The Bucs couldn't extend the game however, as Upstate held on for a 3-1 win after a Lombard groundout.

Childers picked up the win to improve to 10-2, throwing a complete game two-hitter, while striking out nine. Sondra Vetter received the loss and dropped to 4-6, after surrendering six hits and three earned runs in five innings of work.

Game One Box

CSU started off swinging the bats in game two, with three hits in the top of the first, despite being held scoreless. Lombard had a lead-off hit to start the game, but was later caught stealing for the first out. Cullum and Kegley posted back-to-back singles after a Hall walk, to load the bases with one out. The Bucs couldn't take advantage however, ending the inning with a pair of groundouts.

After getting out of the jam, Upstate used the momentum to tally three runs in the bottom of the first, to jump out to an early lead. Kimberly Hobbs had a tough start for CSU, surrendering a pair of doubles and a two-run homerun, to give the Spartans a 3-0 advantage. Caitlin Allen stepped in the circle from there, getting out of the inning despite allowing three more hits.

Matthews tried to turn things around quickly for the Bucs, registering a lead-off homerun in the top of the second to put the Bucs on the board. CSU had two more hits in the inning, but a double play ended the inning with a 3-1 score.

The Bucs added two more in the third to even the score at three apiece, using three hits and one Spartan error to score the runs. Matthews had another extra base hit, posting a double that led to two unearned runs scoring.

After a blank inning for both teams in the fourth, Childers came back in the game for the Spartans, to record three strikeouts in the fifth. Upstate then took the go ahead run in the bottom of the inning, using two hits and two Buccaneer miscues to score an earned run. They added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, heading to the seventh and final inning with a 5-3 score.

Hall tried to spark a rally, capping off her perfect day with a lead-off double to left field. Two outs would follow however, before Kelleher drew a walk to put two runners on. Both would advance to scoring position on a wild pitch, with the go ahead run at the plate. CSU couldn't take advantage however, as Peters-Brock fouled out to end the game with a final 5-3 score.

Childers picked up her second win of the day, improving to 11-2 after three scoreless innings and just two hits. Allen took the loss to drop to 3-2, allowing two earned runs and nine hits in six innings of work.

Game Two Box

CSU will take the weekend off, before getting back into action at Campbell on Wednesday, March 23, playing in a doubleheader at 4 p.m.