CHARLESTON, S.C. - It was a great day for softball in the Low Country, as Charleston Southern went 2-1 in the opening day of the CSU Low Country Invitational Friday, at Buccaneer Field. The Bucs dropped their first game of the day vs. the Lipscomb Bison, but bounced back with wins over the NC A&T Aggies and the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. With a pair of wins CSU improved to 9-10 on the year and will compete for the tourney championship tomorrow in bracket play.

Megan Hall led the way for the Bucs with a .475 batting average over three games, including five hits, two doubles, and four RBIs. Megan Lombard also played outstanding with a .475 batting average, two extra base hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored.

In the first game, the Bucs looked to put some runs on the board in the first, when Amy Trenkamp reached on a walk and Hall singled to right center. CSU couldn't take advantage with two on and just one out, as two consecutive strikeouts ended the inning and stranding two on base.

The Bison got rolling early, taking advantage of winning the coin toss and playing as the home team. Lipscomb posted two runs in the bottom of the first after four hits, three of which were consecutive.

Three scoreless innings would follow, as Jamie Wellons bounced back to hold the Bison hitless in that time. CSU however, could not find much offense of their own. The Bucs managed just two hits on the game and left five on base. One more Lipscomb run in the sixth would bring the final score to 3-0 in the Buc loss.

CSU played as the away team again vs. the Aggies in game two, but it wouldn't matter after a big fourth inning. A Trenkamp single started the game in the top of the first and the Bucs would advance her to third, but no further before ending the inning.

Game One Box

Sondra Vetter got the starting nod for the second contest, bringing some of her best stuff in limited action. Vetter had three strikeouts and allowed three hits in three innings, before NC A&T recorded a run to end the third.

The Bucs wasted no time in the top of the fourth, and jumped on their chance to take the lead. Brittany York stated with a lead-off single before Ashely Fowler reached on an error. CSU took advantage with back-to-back singles from Mellissa Adams and Lombard. Trenkamp and Hall also had RBIs in the inning en route to a 4-1 lead for the Bucs.

Caitlin Allen stepped into the circle in the bottom of the fourth, continuing with CSU's solid pitching effort. Allen struck out the first three batters she saw, stranding one on base and ending the inning.

Some insurance runs were provided for the Bucs in the fifth, after a big bases clearing double from Hall sent home three runs. Hall's hit was the only of the inning after an Aggie error and a pair of walks.

NC A&T managed three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, but it was too little too late, as CSU held on for a 7-4 victory.

Game Two Box

In the day one finale, the Bucs held on in a 3-0 win over the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks.

CSU got into some trouble in the bottom of the first after three consecutive singles. To make matters worse, Allen was hit with a line drive and forced to leave the game due to injury. Wellons stepped up for the Bucs, coming in with just one out to strand three on base.

Two scoreless innings brought up a one run third and the first score of the game for CSU. Kristin Kelleher had a lead-off single, followed by an RBI triple by Lombard.

Wellons threw for three hitless innings, to help bring the Bucs to a two-run fifth. Another RBI extra base hit for Lombard added one run, before a Trenkamp sac-fly put CSU up 3-0. The Bucs stayed up for good and 3-0 would be the final score in the final game of day one at the Low Country Invitational.

Wellons picked up the win, pitching nearly a complete game and allowing just two hits, while striking out five.

Game Three Box

CSU will wait for one more game tomorrow morning, before entering into bracket play.