BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Charleston Southern softball won its first Big South series of the season, sweeping both games of a doubleheader at Gardner-Webb Saturday, to take two out of three from its league rival over the weekend at Brinkley Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The Buccaneers claimed game one 5-4 before tallying a 3-1 decision in the second matchup.

GAME 1 | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 5, GARDNER-WEBB 4
The Bucs stormed back by scoring in three-straight innings and then held off a late Runnin' Bulldogs rally to even the series initially with the first game triumph. Gardner-Webb (12-13, 4-4 Big South) jumped out in front 2-0 after scoring a single run in two of the first-three frames. In the first inning, Abby Goodrum reached on a two-out single, eventually working her way around to third on back-to-back walks. She then trotted home on a Bridgette Strobl single before CSU starter Blake Holtorf induced the final out with the bases still loaded.

Charleston Southern (11-17, 3-5 Big South) put runners on base itself in the visitor half of the second, as Madison Koger led off with a single and Lexi Markle doubled to put both players in scoring position. Koger was a force out at home plate as Gracie Prince reached on the fielder's choice and the Buccaneers were unable to threaten again in the stanza.

In the bottom of the third inning, GWU scratched across its next run. Andrea Lyon led off with a single and then came home as the next batter, Goodrum, doubled.

The Bucs offense was jump started in the top of the fourth. Markle and Rhiana Hubbard started the frame with consecutive walks and then each advanced a base as a bunt single from Weslin Jones loaded the bases. The next batter, Prince, brought home Markle on a sacrifice fly and then Ashley Meckley followed with a groundout to third base, allowing Hubbard to cross home plate and level the score at 2-2 through three-and-a-half.

Charleston Southern claimed the upper-hand for the first time in the top of the fifth, as SeaEnna Satcher belted a solo home run for a 3-2 lead. The advantage, however, did not last long, as the Runnin' Bulldogs answered with one of their own as Lyon countered in the bottom of the fifth.

The Buccaneers responded, once again. Hubbard drew a lead-off walk and moved to second as Jones singled. Both runners advanced one base as Prince was out on a comebacker to the circle. Hubbard then came home for the go-ahead run on a Meckley sacrifice fly. As Jones moved up 60 feet on the play, she then came home on a Raleigh Lewis single in the next at-bat, providing the two-run cushion.

Gardner-Webb threatened with a base runner in the bottom of the sixth, as Strobl reached second but she got no further as reliever Baylee Eaton struck out McKenzie Lawrence and Katie Mitchell flied out to right. The Runnin' Bulldogs again had base runners in the bottom of the seventh, as Lyon led off with a triple and then was brought home via a Goodrum sacrifice fly, making it a one-run contest. Molly Montgomery was the next to reach, on a single, but back-to-back outfield fly outs ended the game.

Lilly Bishop and Jones each finished with a pair of hits, while Meckley had a team-high two RBI. Holtorf picked up the win, lasting 5.0 innings in the circle and scattering six hits. She added two strikeouts and allowed three runs, all earned. Eaton finished the game over the last 2.0 innings, also striking out two GWU batters, while giving up three hits and one run.

GAME 2 | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 3, GARDNER-WEBB 1
The Bucs continued the momentum in the second game, using the strength of staff ace Annah Junge in the circle, to limit the Gardner-Webb opportunities. Junge went the distance, allowing seven hits and striking out four. She created nine fly outs and eight ground outs in the complete-game performance.

Offensively, CSU opened the game with a leadoff double by Prince. After she was tagged out on an infield play, Lewis also doubled to put a Buccaneers player back on base. She moved to third on a Bishop single and then scored as Satcher followed with a single of her own for the 1-0 lead.

Charleston Southern built a 2-0 edge in the top of the second, playing a bit of small ball. Hubbard walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. She then stole third as Prince walked. With runners on the corners, Prince swiped the team's second base of the inning, allowing Hubbard to come home with two outs.

It stayed that way until the home half of the fourth, as Riley McCurry and Kayleigh Nicholson singled back-to-back with one out. Alexa Key loaded the bases on a walk. Junge then forced Lawrence fielder's choice, as Meckley got Nicholson out at third base. In the process, McCurry scored to break up the shutout and slicing the CSU advantage in half, 2-1.

The Bucs answered right back. Meckley led off the top of the fifth with a triple, her first and the squad's third, of the season. Lewis then singled to bring her home to create a two-score difference, once again.

Junge continued to work her magic in the circle over the final-three frames, not surrendering another run, although the Runnin' Bulldogs had at least one base runner each inning.

Lewis led the way in the second contest with two hits and an RBI, while the other RBI came off the bat of Satcher.

UP NEXT
Charleston Southern returns to CSU Softball Complex for its next-seven games, starting with a midweek doubleheader against South Carolina State. The recently-added contests will start at 3 p.m. Wednesday with the second matchup set to begin approximately 30 minutes after the first ends.