CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern came up with two huge conference wins, taking 8-3 and 5-3 contests over the Winthrop Eagles, Friday at Buccaneer Field. After struggling at the plate recently, the Bucs erupted for 22 hits as a team, including multiple hits for all nine starters. With the wins, CSU improved to 23-22-1 with a 7-7 mark in the Big South, while Winthrop fell to 22-18 and 5-5 in conference play.

Shayla Cullum continued her steady play at the plate, leading the team with four hits on the day, including two doubles. Megan Hall also had a big day, with three hits and three RBIs. Courtney Konyk had her best day in a Buccaneer uniform, recording three hits, two runs scored and a walk.

Winthrop and CSU each had hits in the first inning, but neither could manage any runs to start. Despite two hits in the bottom of the first for the Bucs, a double play and a strikeout spoiled an early scoring opportunity.

CSU bounced back with four more hits in the bottom of the second, to score a pair of runs and go up 2-0. Kristin Kelleher had a lead-off single to start the rally, followed by hits from Trea Steele and Konyk to load the bases. Melissa Adams posted a two RBI single to bring home the runs, still with just one out in the inning. Another double play for the Eagles put an end to a possible big inning for CSU.

Wintrhop didn't take long to answer, posting two runs of their own in the top of the third, thanks to two hits and one Buccaneer miscue. Megan Evans reached base to start after a CSU error, followed by a Chelsey Schoenfeldt triple to score a run. Schoenfeldt would later score with two outs, tying the game at 2-2 with two unearned runs in the inning. The Eagles took one more in the top of the fourth, for their first lead of the game with a 3-2 score.

Both teams were held scoreless in the fifth, before the Bucs exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth, after six hits in the inning. Back-to-back doubles from Kelleher and Matthews scored the first run, followed by an RBI single from Steele. After a pitching change for Winthrop, CSU continued to roll, with consecutive RBI hits from Adams, Lombard and Hall. Hall's RBI single capped off the inning, making it an 8-3 advantage for the Bucs.

CSU held on for the win in the top of the seventh, with a one, two, three inning for Sondra Vetter. The Bucs finished with 14 hits as a team in game one en route to the final 8-3 score.

Vetter picked up the win and improved to 8-12 on the year, after scattering eight hits and allowing just one earned run in a complete game. Ashleigh Jackson took the loss and dropped to 1-2, after allowing four hits and four runs in 2.1 innings of relief.

Game One Box

CSU continued to roll at the plate in game two, using a late surge to steal a 5-3 win from Winthrop for a doubleheader sweep.

The Eagles got on the board in the top of the first, using a lead-off walk and RBI double to take an early 1-0 lead. The Bucs had a chance to answer in the bottom of the inning, with a pair of hits to put two on with one out. A pop up and fielder's choice ended the inning however, keeping Winthrop on top 1-0.

Two blank innings would follow for both teams, as CSU was held hitless in that time. The Bucs reached the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, taking back the lead with two runs on two hits and one Eagle error. After an RBI hit from Matthews, Steele layed down a suicide squeeze to score the second and give CSU a 2-1 advantage.

Winthrop managed to answer again, using four hits and one Buccaneer error to score two runs in the top of the fifth. Four consecutive singles for the Eagles, capped off by a Taylor Wright RBI hit scored the runs and put Winthrop on top 3-2.

CSU added one more run in the bottom of the inning, to tie the score at 3-3, after two hits and one error in the inning. Back-to-back doubles from Cullum and Kegley did the damage this time, to tie the score after five complete innings.

The fourth and final lead change of the game came in the bottom of the sixth, as the Bucs took back a lead that they would not surrender. CSU managed two runs in the inning, after another two hits and one Winthrop error. Hall continued her clutch hitting, using a two RBI double to give the Bucs a 5-3 advantage.

Despite some seventh inning heroics for the Eagles, CSU managed to hang on for the win after stranding three on base. Winthrop had the lead runner on base after an error, followed by a bunt single to put two on and no out. With the winning run at the plate, CSU went to Caitlin Allen in the circle. After a pop up, the Eagles had bases loaded with one out thanks to a fielder's choice. The Bucs finished the game out, after a groundout and popup, to take the final 5-3 win.

Kimberly Hobbs picked up the win and improved to 8-6, after allowing nine hits and three earned runs in six innings of work. Allen tallied her first save of the year, after a hitless and scoreless seventh inning. Cari Wooldridge took the loss to drop to 12-10, after allowing eight hits and three earned runs in six innings of work.

Game Two Box

CSU will look to take the series sweep tomorrow, playing in game three at 1 p.m.