Holdsworth Helps Winkler to 100th Career Win

CONWAY, S.C. – Hayes Holdsworth tripled and scored with a headfirst slide on a squeeze bunt by Trea Steele in the seventh inning, as Charleston Southern earned a doubleheader split with a 1-0 win over Coastal Carolina at CCU Softball Field on Wednesday afternoon.

The victory marked career win number 100 for CSU Head Coach Shane Winkler, and moved the Bucs back into a tie with the Chanticleers for first place in the Big South.

CSU (19-14, 4-1) had mustered only three hits versus Coastal’s (27-10, 4-1) Ashley Bagwell (8-5) over the first six innings, but got the spark it needed from Holdsworth in the seventh. The sophomore scalded a triple down the right field line to start the frame, as she raced all the way to third in front of the relay throw. The Bucs then played small ball from there, as Steele executed a squeeze bunt on a 3-2 pitch to drive in Holdsworth just ahead of the toss from Bagwell.

Jennifer Giles (4-6) earned the victory in her Big South debut with three shutout innings in relief of Morgan Dowdy. The freshman showcased her mettle in the bottom of the seventh, stranding two runners in scoring position to preserve the win by retiring Coastal leadoff hitter Brooke Donavan on a fly out to Jana Matthews in left field. Giles permitted only three hits and struck out one in her fourth relief appearance of the season.

CSU had a chance to take the lead against Bagwell in the second, as Stephanie Sbardella walked and was pinch-run for by Jasmine Conley, who moved up to second base on a passed ball. Conley crossed on to third following a sacrifice bunt from Holdsworth, but was stranded there as Bagwell retired Steele and Ari Tedesco on soft line outs.

Dowdy was on cruise control from the outset for CSU in the circle, as Coastal did not advance a runner into scoring position until the fourth. Kory Hayden started that frame with a walk, and pinch-runner Nicole Saggiomo scurried up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kiana Quolas. Dowdy stayed cool, though, inducing a pair of groundouts to remain unscathed.

The Bucs put runners at first and second with nobody out in the top of the fifth, as Steele laced a double down the left field line, and Ari Tedesco followed with a walk. Coastal catcher Chelsea Pineda swung the momentum of the inning, however, when she threw behind Steele at second and picked her off for the first out. Bagwell then did the rest to remain unblemished herself, retiring Melissa Adams on a line out, and Kristin Kelleher on a groundout.

Giles came in to relieve Dowdy for CSU in the bottom of the fifth, ending another terrific day for the 5-11 junior right-hander. Dowdy tossed four shutout innings on one hit and three walks after yielding just one run in the opener of the doubleheader.

Coastal forged a threat against Giles in the sixth after Brooke Donovan singled and Hayden reached on an error, but was turned away empty. Giles first snared a soft liner back to the circle, and then got a groundball from Cacia Pierre that Stephanie Sbardella fielded at third and whipped across the diamond for the third out of the inning. That set the stage for the seventh, as the Bucs pushed across a run and moved their head coach to the century mark in victories in the process.

CSU returns to Charleston this weekend for its first home series of the Big South slate. The Bucs will welcome the Presbyterian College Blue Hose to Buccaneer Field for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Friday, before concluding the three-game set with a single contest on Saturday at 1 p.m.