CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston Southern softball team finished the Buccaneer Invite with a 1-3 record in the tournament. After defeating Virginia Tech in nine innings Friday, CSU was downed by Mercer twice, and fell by a slim 1-0 score to tournament finalist Ohio Saturday, Feb. 19 at Buccaneer Field.

With CSU's performance during the weekend event, the Buccaneers now hold a 3-5 record on the season. Virginia Tech earned the tournament championship, winning the title game, 3-2, over Ohio. VT's sophomore pitcher Jasmin Harrell was named tournament MVP.

The Buccaneers played parts of three games on Saturday, as Friday's second game, a contest against Mercer, was halted in the fifth inning due to darkness. The teams completed the game Saturday morning before the regularly-scheduled action, with Mercer winning, 5-0.

Buccaneers Fall to Mercer, 5-0, in Two-Day Game
Charleston Southern dropped a 5-0 decision to Mercer in a contest that spanned two days. Late Friday afternoon, Mercer scored during its first three times up to bat, taking a 5-0 lead after a three-run bottom of the third inning. A Sarah Stukes double drove in Mercer first run during the opening frame. McKenzie Woody provided an RBI single in the bottom of the second to build the lead to two runs.

Kristin Marko and Krista Kennedy homered during the third inning, bolstering Mercer's advantage to 5-0.

For CSU, Trea Steele led off the fifth with a double, but CSU was unable to push her across the plate, and the game was then halted due to darkness. Although CSU registered one hit in each of the final two innings, no runs resulted, and Mercer won the game, 5-0.

Jenni Holtz pitched a shutout, striking out 11 Buccaneers. Kimberly Hobbs drew the loss in two and one-thirds innings. Morgan Dowdy pitched a perfect three and two-thirds innings of relief.

Erin Kegley batted 2-for-3 for CSU against Mercer. For Mercer, Woody and Kennedy each registered two hits.

Mercer 5, CSU 0

CSU Drops 1-0 Decision to Ohio in Final Game of Pool Play
Following the setback to Mercer, CSU still remained in contention for championship. With Virginia Tech's 8-0 win over Mercer, CSU would enter the championship game with a win over Ohio in Saturday's second game. The Bobcats scored once in the second inning, and held off a furious last-inning rally by CSU for a 1-0 win over the host team.

With CSU's loss to Ohio, the team qualified for the consolation game against Mercer.

The Buccaneers managed five hits against a stingy Ohio team that allowed one run over the first three games of the tournament. CSU loaded the bases during the bottom of the seventh, but had its rally derailed on a tough play up the middle with two outs.

Steele and Kristin Kelleher each batted 2-for-3 for the Buccaneers, with Steele also adding a stolen base.

Ohio's Emily Wethington pitched a five-hit shutout, striking out six batters. Wethington helped her own cause with two hits. Morgan Dowdy fashioned a four-hitter, her third complete game of the season, allowing one unearned run.

Ohio took the lead at 1-0 in the top of the second inning, as Jordan Paden led off by reaching base on an error. Dowdy loaded the bases with one out, and walked Alexis Joseph, yielding the only run of the game.

CSU left at least one runner on base during each of the final four innings. A potential rally in the fourth was stymied by a line-out double play.

Facing a one-run deficit, the Buccaneers took the batter's box for their final swings in the seventh. Jana Matthews walked to lead off the inning, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hayes Holdsworth. Steele then laced a single through the right side. Stickney drew a walk with two outs, loading the bases. Freshman Lizzy Olmstead then placed a slap-hit that bounced over the pitcher's head. The shortstop fielded it, tagging Stickney for the final out and ending the contest, 1-0.

Ohio 1, CSU 0

Buccaneers End Tournament With 5-1 Setback in Consolation Game
Charleston Southern faced Mercer for the second time in the Buccaneer Invite Saturday, Feb. 19. Erratic fielding put CSU behind early, and the team scored once in the bottom of the seventh inning of a 5-1 loss;

Dowdy pitched the first four and two-thirds innings of the game, allowing four unearned runs, as CSU committed a season-high eight errors in the field. Holtz earned her second win of the tournament for the Bears, allowing one run in the final four and one-thirds innings.

CSU out-hit Mercer, 7-5, and also connected for the only two extra-base hits of the contest.

Megan Lombard and Kelleher each registered two hits for CSU, with Lombard and Stephanie Sbardella each hitting a double.

Dowdy and CSU held Mercer scoreless over the first two innings. The Buccaneers got runners on second and third with one out in the second, but Mercer put an end to that rally. CSU had given up no runs in the third until Randi Rea scored on a Buccaneer error with two outs.

Mercer pulled away with three runs, all unearned, in the top of the fifth inning, and added one tally in the sixth.

CSU broke through for their lone run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Kelleher drove in Lombard with a double.

Mercer 5, CSU 1

The Buccaneers return to the diamond Tuesday, Feb. 22, playing a doubleheader at city rival College of Charleston. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Patriots Point. CSU will then play at the Stetson Invitational in DeLand, Fla. Feb. 25-27.