NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Excellent pitching was the story for the Charleston Southern Buccaneers on Saturday, as they allowed just one unearned run over the course of two games, defeating the UMass Lowell Riverhawks by a 2-0 score while hanging on in eight innings with a 5-1 win over the St. John's Red Storm.
 
Game One
Annah Junge was dealing, as she notched another complete game to her name, going 7.0 innings allowing three hits, one walk and six strikeouts, which gives her 415 for her career. She is now 25 strikeouts away from obtaining the school record. It was her 50^th career complete game and 11^th career shutout, both of which are top five in school history.
 
Charleston Southern (5-4) scored in the bottom of the first inning, as Madelyne Lee brought in Weslin Jones on an RBI single. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lacy Johnson made it 2-0 with a sacrifice play to bring in Jones again.
 
The Riverhawks (1-7) had a chance in the top of the seventh inning, as a walk and a double put the tying run in scoring position, but the runner at third tried to score on a wild pitch, and Gracie Prince was able to throw it to Junge for the out to end the game.
 
Junge improved to 2-3 on the season with the win. She now has 43 for her career, which is two away from tying for second place in school history. Lee was 3 for 3 with an RBI in the game.
 
Game Two
It was a scoreless game until the bottom of the fifth inning, as Riley Lauffer was cruising through the fifth until a costly error with two outs made it a 1-0 game in favor of the Red Storm (3-6). It remained that way until the top of the seventh inning, when the Bucs (6-4) were finally able to cash in.
 
With runners at first and second, Lee reached on a bunt single. Then, Lacy Johnson walked, scoring Carsten Sandvig to tie the game at one. The Bucs had the bases loaded but were unable to break the tie. Charleston Southern left a total of 13 runners on base throughout the second game.
 
In the top of the eight inning, the bats finally got going, as BriAnna Brooks brought in the go-ahead run with an RBI groundout. Then, Weslin Jones singled to center field, and Lee brought in two runs with an RBI double.
 
Lauffer started the game and went 4.0+ innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits and striking out one batter. She gave way to Nealy Lamb, who threw 4.0 shutout innings without allowing a walk and striking out four batters. She improved her record to 2-0 on the year with the win.
 
On Deck
The Bucs have their first road trip of the season next weekend, as they travel to Tallahassee, FL to participate in the Dugout Club Classic hosted by Florida State. They will take on Nicholls, Florida International and FSU Feb. 23-25.