CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern split in a pair of games at the CSU Invitational, taking an impressive 10-1 win over the Youngstown State Penguins before suffering a 2-1 loss vs. the No. 15 ranked Louisville Cardinals Friday, at Buccaneer Field. The Bucs made quick work of the Penguins in game one, winning by run rule in the fifth inning, before they gave the No. 15 ranked team in the nation all they could handle, with a shot to win it in the end. CSU moved to 4-3-1 on the year, while YSU dropped to 0-2 and Louisville improved to 6-1.

Megan Hall led the way for the Bucs on the day, posting a team best three hits, to go along with two RBI and a run scored. Megan Lombard also played well, registering a triple and a solo homerun, while recording a team high three RBI. Jana Matthews sent out a two-run home run, en route to two hits and three RBI on the day.

Morgan Dowdy received her first start of the season, heading to the circle in game one vs. YSU. Dowdy got out of a jam after three hits in the first inning, thanks to a strikeout that stranded three.

CSU had the bats swinging early and often, posting thee runs on two hits, capped off by a Matthews RBI double. The Bucs also took advantage of a Penguin error in the first, with Shayla Cullum scoring thanks to the miscue. CSU posted one more in the second inning, with Mellissa Adams crossing home plate after a lead-off single.

The Bucs broke the game wide open in the third, using back-to-back triples from Lombard and Hall, to score three out of four runs. Hall would later score on a wild pitch, giving CSU an 8-0 lead through three innings.

The Bucs tacked on two more runs in the fourth, with a two-run homerun from Matthews that put CSU up by double digits. After surrendering a run in the top of the fifth, the Bucs wrapped up a 10-1, five inning win in game one.

Dowdy took home the win, scattering nine hits over five innings for one earned run, while posting four strikeouts. Hana Somogyi received the loss, surrendering eight runs in two and two thirds innings work.

Game One Box

Game two was a pitchers duel, featuring Kimberly Hobbs of CSU in her third start of the year. Hobbs virtually shut down a high powered Cardinal offense, throwing five scoreless innings to start the game.

CSU had their own struggles at the plate however, registering just three hits for the game. The first inning saw a hit from both teams, with one runner stranded. Inning number two was more of the same, as both teams registered hits and could not convert. Jessica Peters-Brock posted a lead-off single in the bottom of the inning, but the Bucs couldn't take advantage.

Both pitchers continued to control the plate, with Tori Collins of Louisville striking out the side in the third inning. After another blank from both teams in the fourth, the fifth inning was the fastest yet. Nine combined pitches from both teams led to six outs, bringing the game to the top of the sixth, still tied at zero.

With the top of the lineup at bat in the sixth, the Cardinals managed two runs, starting with a lead-off hit from Jennifer Esteban. Two more consecutive hits provided the first run, while a RBI sacrifice fly from Colby Wherry made it a 2-0 Louisville lead.

The Bucs wasted no time in answering however, as Lombard sent out a lead-off solo homerun to start the bottom of the sixth. After a pitching change for Louisville, CSU couldn't generate any more offense, despite being at the top of the order. Kristen Wadwell retired all three batters in order in the bottom of the seventh, securing a tightly fought 2-1 Cardinal win.

Hobbs took the tough luck loss after a complete game, dropping to 1-2 while allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Collins improved to 2-1 on the year after throwing five innings and allowing just three hits and one earned run. Wadwell picked up her first save of the season after two scoreless innings.

Game Two Box

CSU will look to build on a strong day one performance tomorrow, when they play St. John's at noon and face off in a rematch with Louisville at 4 p.m.

Photo Gallery vs. YSU

Photo Gallery vs. Louisville