The Presbyterian College softball team scored six runs in the third inning, which included a grand slam by Hope Rogers, to take the 8-5 win over Charleston Southern in an elimination game of the Big South Tournament presented by Musco Sports Lighting, being held in Rock Hill, S.C., on the campus of Winthrop.
CSU ends its season at 22-34 overall while PC improves to 25-27 and faces either Campbell or Longwood Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.,
The Bucs wasted no time in getting on the board, opening the first with a single by Amanda Matsumoto. Jade Gandara brought her home with her sixth home run of the season to make it 2-0 CSU. PC responded in the bottom of the first with a solo home run by Erin Ruff, her sixth, the cut the lead to 2-1. Kelsie Sanchez recorded her 44th hit of the season with an infield single, but a fielder's choice the next at-bat stopped the Blue Hose from cutting the margin even further.
PC loaded the bases in the bottom of the second off a single from Blaire Miller, a walk by Ruff and a Jenna Harris single. Rogers came through with an infield single to bring home Ashley and tied the game at 2-2.
The Bucs answered in the top of the third with a lead-off double by Gandara and then a RBI single from Caitlyn Emberson that landed just in the outfield to give CSU back the lead, 3-2. PC ended the inning on a nice throw from Ashley to Rogers to catch pinch runner Chelsea Frankeny trying to steal.
With one out in the bottom of the third, PC collected a single from Kersten Legacki, as well as walks from Miller and Ashley. Madison Longanecker grounded out to the shortstop but still got the RBI as Legacki scored to tie the game at 3-3.
Ruff drew PC's third walk of the inning, with Harris recording the fourth to bring in Miller. Rogers stepped up the plate and cleared the bases with her 14th home run, this one a grand slam over the left field wall to propel PC up 8-3.
Both teams settled down as the next three innings were scoreless with the Bucs and Blue Hose scattering hits but unable to bring any more across.
With one out in the seventh Gandara hit a two-run home run, her second of the game, to cut CSU's deficit to three, 8-5. CSU would get two runners on base with two outs but a fly out to center ended the potential rally and the game with the Blue Hose on top by three.
Sydney Seigler pitched a complete game for the win (12-13). She surrendered five runs off 10 hits with two strikeouts. Hayley Elkins went 2.2 innings for the loss for CSU (11-25). She gave up six runs off six hits.
Following Rogers and her two hits and five RBI were Sanchez and Legacki with two hits apiece. Ruff and Harris posted a hit and RBI, while Longanecker added a RBI . The Blue Hose finished with nine hits and one error.
CSU was led by Gandara who went four-for-four with four RBI, including two doubles and two home runs.
