The Presbyterian College softball team jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second inning and held on for the 5-4 win over Charleston Southern in game two of the Big South doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the PC Softball Complex in Clinton, S.C.
PC improves to 20-17 overall and 9-6 in the Big South. Charleston Southern falls to 27-22 and 9-8 in the conference. Game three of the series will be played tomorrow at 1 p.m. (weather permitting).
Marci Christian led off the first inning of game two with a solo home run to left to give Charleston Southern the early 1-0 lead. PC responded in the bottom with a two-RBI single by Hope Rogers that drove home Jenna Harris and Shelby Petik, both of whom were on base off back to back walks, to go up 2-1.
Petik shot the Blue Hose up 4-1 in the second off a RBI double to left which plated Harris and Abby Allen, both of whom drew walks to open the bottom of the frame. Erin Ruff brought home Petik the next at-bat with a RBI single to give the Blue Hose the 5-1 lead.
The Bucs cut the lead to one, 5-4, in the top of the fifth off a RBI single by Stevi Johnson and a two-RBI double by Stephanie Bergmann.
Ruff and Rogers were 2-for-3 from the plate, while Petik and Erin Taylor collected one hit apiece. Petik and Rogers also had two RBI for the Blue Hose.
Sydney Seigler (4-9) earned the win for the Blue Hose, going 5.1 innings and and striking out five. Kensley Loudermelk came in for relief and struck out three in the final 1.2 innings.
Bergmann led the Bucs with two hits and two RBI. Hayley Elkins took the loss for the visitors. She struck out one and allowed four hits in her 1.2 innings of work. Jennifer Giles came in for the remainder of the game and struck out four.
