CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston Southern softball team faced Gardner-Webb in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, falling 14-7 in game one and 8-7 in game two.
GAME ONE
The Bucs jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Jordyn Dimond doubled to left center, and Emma Smith reached on a throwing error and later advanced to second, allowing Dimond to score. Smith moved to third on a ground out before Carsten Sandvig drew a walk. Sandvig then stole second and Smith stole home to give the Bucs a 2-0 advantage.
The Runnin' Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the first, taking a 4-2 lead.
In the second inning, Maddie Lee doubled to left field. Emma Villaescusa reached on a throwing error and Lee advanced to third. An RBI ground out allowed Villaescusa to move to second and brought Lee in to score. Dimond recorded another base hit, bringing Villaescusa home to tie the game at 4-4.
Gardner-Webb answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs to take a 6-4 lead.
Villaescusa drew a walk in the fourth, and Blakley Kingsmore followed with a triple down the right field line to score Villaescusa. An RBI ground out later brought Kingsmore home to even the score at 6-6.
Gardner-Webb regained control in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs to take an 11-6 advantage.
In the fifth, Harper Schoeneweis singled to left field and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. She moved to third on a ground out and scored on an RBI ground out to cut the deficit to 11-7.
The Runnin' Bulldogs added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 14-7.
Dimond recorded another base hit in the seventh, and Emma Smith followed with a single up the middle. Olivia Chuck entered as a pinch runner for Smith, and a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance, but they were left stranded.
Kinsey Clopton started in the circle for the Buccaneers, throwing three innings with two strikeouts. Brenna Conley also pitched three innings and recorded one strikeout.
GAME TWO
Blakley Kingsmore led off the first with a single to left center. Jordyn Dimond drew a walk, allowing Kingsmore to advance to second, and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. A ground out RBI brought Kingsmore home to score, and a single from Harper Schoeneweis allowed Dimond to cross the plate.
Carsten Sandvig singled through the right side and Maddie Lee followed with a single through the left side, but both runners were left stranded.
Gardner-Webb responded in the bottom of the first with five runs to take a 5-2 lead.
In the second, Lorenzza Marcacci singled through the right side but was later thrown out on.
Sandvig drew a walk in the third and Lee reached on a fielder's choice. Charlee Yourman doubled to center field, bringing Sandvig and Lee home to cut the deficit to 5-4.
In the fifth, Emma Smith drew a walk and Olivia Chuck entered as a pinch runner. Maddie Lee then tripled to right center, scoring Chuck and tying the game at 5-5.
Marcacci recorded another base hit in the sixth and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Cadence Walding entered as a pinch hitter and singled up the middle to bring Marcacci home, giving the Bucs a 6-5 lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the inning with three runs to regain the lead.
In the seventh, Smith singled and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. A ground out moved Smith to third, and a single from Lee brought her home to make it 8-7.
Riley Lauffer threw all six innings for the Bucs, allowing eight runs while recording one strikeout.
UP NEXT
The Buccaneers will return home this weekend to take on Longwood in a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with game two to follow at 3:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
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