ROCK HILL, S.C. - Morgan Dowdy made a first inning run stand up as she authored her third complete game shutout of the season to lead Charleston Southern over Winthrop, 1-0, in the Bucs' Big South opener at Terry Field on Saturday afternoon.

Dowdy (10-6) once again exhibited her mettle in going the distance for the 12th time in 20 starts this year. The junior right-hander allowed just four hits and four walks, while striking out four.

A one out walk from Kristin Kelleher helped CSU (16-13, 1-0) scratch out a first inning run against Winthrop (11-18, 0-2) starter Chelsey Schoenfeldt (5-9). Lizzy Olmstead then pinch ran for Kelleher and stole her team-leading fourth base of the year to move into scoring position, before Jana Matthews tallied her club-best 18th RBI with a fielder's choice groundout for a 1-0 Bucs advantage two batters later.

Winthrop forged its best rally of the early innings in the third, as it placed runners on second and third with two outs for third-place hitter Alex White. Dowdy dispatched of her easily, however, inducing a groundout to Jessica Brock at second base to quell the threat.

The Eagles put runners at second and third again in the fifth - this time with one out - but once again could not break through on the scoreboard. Dowdy struck out Carole Reda on an inside fastball for the second out of the inning, before getting some help from her battery mate to end the frame. After receiving a Dowdy pitch, catcher Melanie Stickney fired down to second base and forced a rundown which eventually ended in an out at third.

Teja Durante worked a leadoff walk in the Winthrop half of the sixth, but could not make her way past first as Dowdy retired White on a fly out and then got a 3-6-3 double play ball courtesy of a pretty pick and throw from CSU first baseman Hannah Wagner.

Another pickoff play thwarted Winthrop's final comeback bid in the seventh after Kathryn Eberlin had led off the frame by reaching on an error. Eberlin wandered too far off the first base bag, and Stickney recorded her second assist of the ballgame by throwing in behind her to Wagner, who applied the tag for the out. The Eagles put the tying run on base again thanks to a Melanie Andrea walk, but Dowdy forced a pair of groundouts to end it.

Game two of the doubleheader is set to begin shortly, with the third and final game of the series following Sunday at 2 p.m. Sunday's contest will be broadcast live on ESPN3.