Jennifer Giles struck out 10, while Jana Matthews added two multiple RBI home runs, to lead Charleston Southern to the 7-2 win over the Presbyterian College softball team this morning in the opening game of the Big South Tournament, presented by Musco Lighting, being held at Terry Field in Rock Hill, S.C.
Charleston Southern, now 14-28 overall, advances to take on #1 Coastal Carolina this afternoon at 2:30 p.m., while the Blue Hose end their season at 22-31.
Leading CSU was Matthews, who went two-for-three with two home runs and five RBI. Giles earned the win (9-27) from the circle, going 6.1 innings and giving up just one run off two hits and striking out 11, including the first six PC batters.
PC was led by Cat Tarvin, who went one-for-three with a home run, and Tera Powell, who went one-for-three with one RBI as well. Kensley Loudermelk (12-15) went 4.2 innings and surrendered seven runs off five hits.
After Loudermelk led off the top of the first with back-to-back walks, Charleston Southern capitalized with a three-run home run by Matthews, her 10th of the season, and took a 3-0 lead.
Giles struck out six in a row as the Bucs held on to the 3-0 lead after two innings. The Blue Hose finally broke Giles' streak with a lead-off double by Courtney Lawton in the bottom of the third. After advancing to third off a CSU error, she scored PC's first run of the game off a single up the middle by Powell, and the Blue Hose cut the margin to two, 3-1. PC loaded the bases after Erin Ruff drew a walk, but the next batter grounded out to close the frame.
Loudermelk, who settled down after the first inning, retired the next 13 CSU batters, with her second hit given up not coming until the top of the fifth. With one out, Natalie Yonan singled to center field and advanced to second on a wild pitch the next at-bat. She reached third on CSU's third hit of the game, this one a single from Ari Tedesco. The run would score on a fielder's choice by Marci Christian and the Bucs took the 4-1 lead.
Christian came home off a Stephanie Sbardella single, while Sbardella plated the next at-bat when Matthews hit her second home run of the game, this one a two-run shot over the right field fence, to give CSU the 7-1 lead. Loudermelk was relieved by Sydney Seigler, who forced a pop up by the Bucs to end the inning.
PC threatened again in the fifth after Erin Taylor drew a walk with one out on the board. She advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt from Powell, but the next Blue Hose batter popped up to end the inning.
The Blue Hose added a run in the sixth with a solo home run by Tarvin, her ninth of the season, and trailed 7-2. Shelby Petik collected PC's fourth hit of the game with a double to left center, while Lawton walked to put two runners on with two outs. The next batter struck out to end the threat, however.
Giles retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to give CSU the 7-2 win.
