RADFORD, Va. - Charleston Southern started their conference season in disappointing fashion, dropping 7-1 and 8-0 losses vs. the Radford Highlanders Saturday, at the RU Softball Field. Kristin Kelleher paced the offense with three hits on the day, but as a team the Bucs had just seven combined hits. CSU dropped to 16-17-1 and 0-2 in Big South play, while Radford improved to 15-9 and 4-1 in the conference.

Erin Kegley provided the only run of the day for the Bucs, sending out a solo homerun in game one. Kegley and Kelleher were the only CSU batters to tally multiple hits for the day and hits in both games.

In game one, Radford got on the board first after a one, two, three inning for CSU in the first. In the bottom of the inning, the Highlanders posted four hits, to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Shannon Keefe capped off the inning with a homerun to left field.

The Bucs didn't take long to bounce back, with a first pitch, lead-off homerun from Kegley to start the second. Kelleher also posted a hit in the inning, but couldn't help CSU to generate any more runs. Radford came right back with two more runs in the bottom of the second however, using three doubles to go up 4-1.

The Highlanders continued to pour it on, making it two runs in each of the first three innings, to take a 6-1 lead. Radford had just one hit in the bottom of the third, but used a pair of walks and a Buccaneer miscue to score the runs. From there CSU went with Kimberly Hobbs in relief, who got out of the inning after a fly out and foul fly.

After a blank inning for both teams in the fourth, Trea Steele had a leadoff hit for the Bucs in the top of the fifth. The next three batters were retired in order however, to keep it at a five run deficit for CSU. Kristen Shifflett added to the Radford lead in the bottom of the innings, using a solo homerun to put the Highlanders on top, 7-1.

Neither team could get anything going on offense in the sixth, with Radford recording their first one, two, three inning of the game. The Bucs couldn't start a rally in the top of the seventh either, with three straight batters retired for a final 7-1 score.

Chelsea Kelly picked up the win and improved to 10-4 for the season, allowing just four hits and one run in a complete game. Sondra Vetter took the loss for CSU and dropped to 5-9 on the year, after allowing eight hits and five earned runs in two and one third innings of work.

Game One Box

In game two, both teams struggled to get going on offense early on, with two scoreless innings and just one combined hit. Radford reached the scoreboard first, tallying a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. The Highlanders put two on that were hit by a pitch and used a two RBI double from Sarah Himan to take a 2-0 advantage.

Kegley broke up a no-hitter in the top of the fourth, but CSU couldn't take advantage, recording another scoreless inning. Radford added two more in the bottom of the fourth, using two hits in the inning to take a four run lead. After Hope Creasy had a one out single, Meredith Moore posted a two-run shot.

The Bucs' best chance to reach the scoreboard came in the top of fifth, with Kelleher recording a lead-off single. Two outs would follow, but Melissa Adams had a single and advanced on the throw, to put runners at second and third. CSU couldn't take advantage however, with a foul fly that ended the inning.

After a one, two, three inning for the Bucs in the top of the sixth, Radford managed to end things early, using four runs to take a run rule 8-0 win. After an RBI single, two more hits set the stage for Michelle Beall, who provided a walk-off three-run homer to end the game.

Kellie Snooks picked up the win and improved to 3-3, after just three hits and six scoreless innings. Hobbs took the loss and fell to 6-5, after 10 hits and eight earned runs in five and a third innings of work.

Game Two Box

CSU will look to bounce back in game three of the series tomorrow. The game has been moved up to 10 a.m., due to the threat of rain on the day.