MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Charleston Southern used two outstanding pitching performances from Annah Junge in game one and Blake Holtorf in game two to complete the Wednesday sweep at College of Charleston. The Buccaneers tallied the pair of victories by 5-1 and 8-1 scores at Patriots Point.

GAME 1 | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 5, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 1
Junge assumed the spot in the circle and never surrendered it in the complete-game triumph, her 14th time this spring going the distance. She struck out a career-best tying 10, her most since 2020, while walking one and scattering five hits over the 7.0 innings. At one point, she had struck out eight-consecutive Cougars, spanning the last-two outs of the second through all three in the third and fourth frames. Four of the five hits were singles.

While she was shutting down the College of Charleston (9-31) offense, it wasn't until the fourth in which the Bucs side warmed up themselves. CSU managed three hits through the first-three frames and that pattern continued into the fourth, but this time, the visitors were able to bring the runners home for runs.

Madison Koger ignited the spark after reaching on an error and advancing to second with one out. Two freshmen, Gracie Prince and Weslin Jones, followed with back-to-back singles to lead the bases for Taylor Gleason. A fielder's choice put Gleason on but CofC cut down a scoring opportunity as the throw from shortstop went home to get Koger, then lead runner.

Bases remained full as Rhiana Hubbard singled to right, bringing in Prince and Jones for the 2-0 advantage. Hubbard stole second base, again putting a pair of Charleston Southern (20-24) runners in scoring position. Ashley Meckley then ripped a single, plating Gleason and growing the lead to 3-0 before the inning ended.

CSU remained in front 3-0 until the sixth when Gleason reached on a one-out single. Hubbard then hit into a fielder's choice before moving over to second on another Meckley single. Lilly Bishop had her turn with a single, bringing Hubbard in to score and advancing Meckley to 60 feet away. Raleigh Lewis brought in Meckley with another two-out single as the Buccaneers padded their cushion to 5-0.

College of Charleston managed its only offensive threat in the bottom half of the inning. Jenna Carter laid down a bunt single in the leadoff spot, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and then over to third on a ground out. With two outs, Shealyn Starks singled to right field, bringing in Carter for the final outcome.

Jones led the way for the Bucs with a 3-of-4 outing at the plate, while Meckley, Lewis and Prince had two hits apiece in another strong offensive display with 13 hits, including 12 singles.

GAME 2 | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 8, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 1
Just when Junge hurled her gem to start the twinbill, Holtorf followed with one of her own, tossing a two-hitter in another complete-game appearance, her seventh of the campaign. The two hits allowed tie for the fewest surrendered by Charleston Southern (21-24) all season. She struck out a career-high eight, while walking two.

This time, it was the first inning that saw the Buccaneers offense get going. Meckley led off with a triple deep to the right-center gap, her second three-bagger of the season. In the next at-bat, Lewis singled to right allowing Meckley to trot the remaining 60 feet for a 1-0 cushion.

In the bottom of the first, Carsten Puckett delivered a two-out double for the lone Cougars hit through the first-six innings. It was a bit of an offensive lull for CSU, as well, with its next hit not coming until the top of the fourth when Koger singled back to the pitcher.

The Bucs broke out of the drought in the fifth thanks to a leadoff walk by Jones. She moved to second on an infield hit by Gleason but was then retired on a fielder's choice force out at third. Gleason, however, remained on base during the play as Meckley reached to again give Charleston Southern a pair of base runners. Bishop then hit a single to center, bringing in both of her teammates to grow the margin to 3-0.

SeaEnna Satcher was the first to reach in the visitors' half of the sixth and then a Koger single moved her up to second where she was lifted for Lexi Markle as a pinch runner. Markle and Koger continued to work their way around the basepaths on an infield groundout before Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Gleason.

Gleason hit the ball in the infield, but as the first baseman played the ball, she turned and tossed the ball away from the bag with no one covering and the ball went to center field. All three runners came around to score, doubling the advantage to 6-0.

CSU added more offense in the seventh. Meckley walked to lead off the frame then stole second base, her team-leading 16th of the spring. Bishop hit a single up the middle and Meckley raced home for the 7-0 upper-hand. An Ashlyn Cribb single moved Bishop to second before she came in three batters later on another single, this time by Prince, to provide the final Buccaneers run of the evening.

College of Charleston (9-32) snapped out of its offensive drought in its last turn up to the plate. Starks reached on a fielder's choice and then Mia Dittoe knocked the squad's second hit of the game, a double to left, allowing Starks to come all the way around to break up the shutout bid.

Bishop, Koger and Gleason all had multi-hit games with Bishop credited with three RBI. Meckley scored three times and had the only extra base hit of the contest with the triple among the 10 overall hits.

UP NEXT
The Bucs return to the CSU Softball Complex for the final time in 2022 when they play host to North Carolina A&T Friday and Saturday. The single game Friday will begin at 5 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.

Charleston Southern will honor its seniors after the doubleheader during the annual Senior Day festivities. Each of the remaining games on the Buccaneers' slate this spring are Big South matchups prior to the league tournament in mid-May in Farmville, Virginia.