BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Charleston Southern bounced back in a big way vs. the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, taking a 16-5 game three victory in five innings Sunday, at Varsity Field. Jana Matthews hit for the cycle, going 4 for 4 while collecting six RBIs and four runs scored. With the win, CSU improved to 25-26-1 with an 8-10 mark in the Big South, while GWU dropped to 17-29 and 7-10 in conference play.

After struggling at the plate on Saturday, the Bucs posted 15 hits as team en route to the win. Megan Lombard broke free from a mini slump with three hits, three runs scored and four RBIs. Trea Steele also had three hits, to go along with two runs scored. Shayla Cullum posted two hits, three runs scored and two RBIs, while Kristin Kelleher added two hits, two runs scored and a RBI. McKenzie Morenus paced the offense for the Bulldogs, with two hits, three RBIs and a run scored.

CSU had the bats swinging early and often, recording three runs in the top of the first on two hits. Lombard had a single to start things off, followed by Cullum being hit by a pitch. Matthews took advantage with a triple to right center, scoring the first two runs. Matthews would later score on a passed ball, to give the Bucs an early 3-0 lead.

After a blank inning in the second, CSU added one more in the top of the third. Matthews sent out a solo homerun to left center, making it a 4-0 advantage for the Bucs. CSU stayed hot at the plate in the fourth, breaking the game open with six more runs. The lead runner reached base after Erin Kegley was hit by a pitch, followed by singles from Steele and Kelleher. Lombard and Matthews each had two RBI doubles from there helping the Bucs jump out to a 10-0 lead.

GWU showed some life in the bottom of the fourth, posting five runs of their own, after five hits in the inning. Christa Fullword put the Bulldogs on the board, plating a pair after a single up the middle. Morenus capped the inning off with a three-run homer, making it a 10-5 score.

CSU didn't slow down on offense, adding another six runs in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach. Steele started the inning with a single, followed by hits from Jasmine Conley and Kelleher to load the bases. Lomard had another RBI hit to score a pair, followed by a RBI hit from Cullum. Matthews capped the inning off with an RBI single to complete the cycle, before CSU managed to go up 16-5.

The Bucs closed the game out with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the fifth, to take the final 16-5 win.

Caitlin Allen picked up the win to improve to 6-3, after allowing nine hits and five runs in five innings of work. Allison Coffey took the loss and dropped to 0-2, after allowing two hits and two earned runs in 0.1 innings of work.

CSU will enjoy an extended break during finals week, before getting back into action at home vs. Howard on Thursday, May 6, at 2 p.m.