CONWAY, S.C. - No. 5 Charleston Southern hung on for a 5-3 win vs. the No. 7 seeded Presbyterian College Blue Hose in an elimination game Friday, at the CCU Softball Field. The back and forth game featured four lead changes, including a late scoring opportunity for the Blue Hose. The Bucs had just three hits for the game, but managed a three run fifth to take the final lead of the game. CSU (30-27-1) advances to play at 4:30 p.m. vs. the winner of No. 4 Gardner-Webb and No. 6 Coastal Carolina, while PC (21-28) was the first team to be eliminated from the 2010 Big South Tournament.

Jessica Peters-Brock gave the Bucs an early lift, sending out a two-run homerun in the bottom of the second. Megan Hall also had a solid game, going one for one, with two walks, an RBI and a run scored. Jana Matthews had the only other hit for CSU, but also managed an RBI and a walk. For the Blue Hose, Tera Powell led the way with a pair of hits and a run scored.

Presbyterian got on the board first, using a pair of singles and a Buccaneer miscue to do the damage. Powell sent a single in to left field on the first pitch of the game, followed by an Amanda Miller sacrifice bunt. Brittany Howell also reached base safely with a single, to put runners at the corners with two outs. CSU managed to record the third out, but not before Powell scored on an illegal pitch for an early 1-0 lead.

After a blank inning in the first, the Bucs took control of the lead, with two runs in the bottom of the second. Mary Gordon started in the circle for the Blue Hose, issuing a leadoff walk to Kristin Kelleher. CSU had just one hit in the inning, but Peters-Brock took advantage, sending a two-run homer over the left field fence.

Sondra Vetter got the start for CSU and managed to get out of some trouble in the top of the third. PC loaded the bases, thanks to a pair of hits and a walk with just one out. Vetter forced a line out to short stop from there, before a strikeout ended the inning, with the Bucs still on top 2-1.

The Blue Hose kept the pressure on in the top of the fourth, retaking the lead after two runs after a single and an error. Rachel Parker had a lead-off hit for PC, to record the team's fifth hit of the game. CSU elected to go with Caitlin Allen in relief from there, after just three innings of work for Vetter.

Looking to advance the runner, Morgan Durham laid down a sacrifice bunt, but instead took advantage of a Buccaneer error. Parker managed to score the equalizer all the way from first, while Durham advanced to third. A fielder's choice put in play by Gordon scored the second run, making it a 3-2 score.

CSU bounced back in the fifth, scoring three runs on two hits for the fourth lead change of the game. Steele drew a lead-off walk, the fifth consecutive lead-off walk issued by Gordon. Hall took advantage for the Bucs, blasting an RBI triple down the left field line to score the first run of the inning. After Lombard reached on a fielder's choice, Shayla Cullum managed an RBI groundout. Matthews kept the rally going, with an RBI single to second base, to give the Bucs a 5-3 advantage.

Allen retired three batters in order in the top of the sixth, leaving the Blue Hose with just three outs to extend the game. CSU looked to add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, with another lead-off walk for Kelleher. Howell came in to throw in relief from there, getting out of the inning after three straight batters were retired.

In the top of the seventh, Allen returned the favor to Gordon, issuing a lead-off walk to bring the tying run to the plate. After Allen managed a strikeout, the bases were loaded thanks to a Blue Hose hit and a Buccaneer error.

Allen picked up the win and improved to 7-3 after just one hit and one earned run in four innings of work. Gordon took the loss to fall to 8-8, after allowing three hits, six walks and five earned runs in five innings of work.

"At this point in the tournament, it's survival mode," said Head Coach Shane Winkler. "We didn't play our best in any area of the game; pitching, defense or swinging the bats. But we did do just enough to win and that's what it's all about at this point. Winning ugly is more important than looking good and losing. We'll keep doing what we have to do and try to keep our pulse."

You can keep track of all the results in the Big South Tournament and upcoming match ups at the Big South Championship Page.