Hope Rogers hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning, and added a RBI base hit in the seventh, while Kensley Loudermelk struck out a season-high nine, to lead the #6-seed Presbyterian College softball team to the Big South Tournament Championship for the first time in school history with the 5-1 win over #5 Charleston Southern.
With the win PC, moves to 25-24 and advances to the league championship game to be played Sunday at 2 p.m., on ESPN3. CSU ends its season at 31-28.
The top of the fourth saw Shelby Petik take a walk to lead things off. Kersten Legacki made it two hits in a row for her with a shot to third to put runners on first and second. Rogers made CSU pay with a three-run home run to left, her fourth of the year, and the Blue Hose climbed to a 4-0 lead.
Jill McLean opened the first with a single back to the shortsop. She made it all the way to third off a sacrifice bunt and ground out to second, but Jennifer Giles ended the inning with her first strikeout of the day. CSU's Amanda Matsumoto looked to line a base hit through the right side to open the bottom of the frame, but a diving catch by Erin Ruff saved a hit as the Blue Hose would retire the side in order to end the first scoreless.
Legacki led off the second with a towering shot over the right field fence to give PC the early 1-0 lead. It was the seventh of the season and her first since Mar. 28.
After a quiet top of the second for PC, Charleston Southern used a walk and single to put runners on first and second with just one out. Loduermelk struck out her fourth and fifth batters of the game to shut down the potential rally.
McLean recorded her second hit of the game to start off the fifth. Jenna Harris drew a walk, with both of them advancing to second and third off a sacrifice bunt by Petik. Giles got the Bucs out of the jam, striking out the next batter and forcing a pop up to second for the third out.
Charleston Southern put runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, but Loudermelk got out of inning after striking out the last batter.
The Bucs got on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a home run by Stephanie Bermann, her first of the season, this one sailing over left to make it 4-1 after six innings of play.
With an out in the top of the seventh, Harris singled through the left side, while Petik earned a walk to take first. A ruff single loaded the bases, but the next batter popped up to short for the second out. Rogers came through with a single to left to drive home pinch runner Courtney Lawton and PC took the 5-1 lead.
The Bucs' Yonan picked up a walk in the bottom of the seventh with one out on the board. Amanda Matsumoto sacrificed her over to second, with a base hit by Marci Christian bringing her to third. Stevi Johnson drew another walk to load the bases. The rally was cut short as Bergmann's line drive to left was caught by Petik to end the game, Blue Hose on top 5-1.
Loudermelk (15-9) was dominant in the circle for PC, striking out nine, while giving up just one run off three hits. Giles (15-17) surrendered five runs off nine hits with seven Ks.
Following Rogers and her three hits and four RBI was McLean and Legacki, both with two hits apiece. Three different Bucs posted hits for the home team.
Presbyterian College 5, Charleston Southern 1 (May 09, 2015 at Buies Creek, N.C.)
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Presbyterian College 010 300 1 - 5 9 2 (25-24)
Charleston Southern. 000 001 0 - 1 3 0 (31-28)
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Pitchers: Presbyterian College - LOUDERMELK, Kensley and TAYLOR, Erin. Charleston Southern -
GILES, Jennifer and CHRISTIAN, Marci.
Win-LOUDERMELK, Kensley(15-9) Loss-GILES, Jennifer(15-17) T-2:22 A-0
HR PC - LEGACKI, Kersten (7); ROGERS, Hope (4).
HR CSU - BERGMANN, Stephanie (1).
Weather: 72F, Cldy, W N 7mph
Game: PC0509
