PATRIOTS POINT, S.C. - The College of Charleston softball team swept a pair of games from Charleston Southern Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Patriots Point, coming from behind to win each contest. CofC won game one, 6-3, and claimed the second contest by a 4-3 score in eight innings.

CSU (3-7) has now dropped five straight games, while the Cougars (6-3) have won five in a row.

College of Charleston used a four-run sixth inning to come from behind for a 6-3 victory over Charleston Southern in game one. During game two, the Buccaneers took a 3-2 lead with a run in the top of the seventh. A CofC homer in the bottom of the seventh tied it, and the Cougars scored in the eighth for the 4-3 win.

For CSU in game one, Kristin Kelleher batted 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBI in the first game, clearing the bases during the second inning. Jana Matthews hit a triple, while Stephanie Sbardella hit her fifth double of the season and Ari Tedesco recorded her first collegiate hit.

CofC's Stephanie Saylors improved to 3-2 on the season, allowing three runs on four hits in three innings pitched. CSU's Morgan Dowdy drew her third loss of the season, yielding six runs on nine hits in five and two-thirds innings.

The Buccaneers scored three runs in the top of the second inning to break into the scoring column. Sbardella led off the inning with a double. Pinch runner Jasmine Conley was moved to third base as Melanie Stickney and Lizzy Olmstead were hit by a pitch in back-to-back at-bats. Kelleher cleared the bases with a two-out double, good for a 3-0 lead.

College of Charleston responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second frame, as Hillary Stringer blasted a two-run homer to pull CofC to within one run at 3-2.

Matthews led off the third inning with a triple, but got out when Trea Steele flew into a double play, defusing the rally. Dowdy and CSU retired the Cougars in order during the third through fifth innings.

After a scoreless CSU half of the sixth, CofC had its first four batters reach base. Katie Pesature tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI single, while Katie Forbes put CofC ahead with a double, driving in one run. Stringer recorded a sacrifice fly, and Blakeney Sitton hit an RBI single for a 6-3 Cougar lead.

Erin Kegley stroked a single with two outs in the seventh, but the Cougars retired the final Buccaneer batter for the win.

Game One Box - CofC 6 - CSU 3

Game two gave CSU an opportunity to earn a split in the doubleheader. Kimberly Hobbs pitched brilliantly for the Buccaneers in the early going, retiring the first 14 batters she faced while striking out six Cougar batters.

While Hobbs and the CSU defense held CofC off the board, the Bucs had batters reach base in four out of the first five innings.

In the top of the fifth, CSU loaded the bases with two outs, as Megan Lombard tripled, Kelleher drew a walk and Kegley was hit by a pitch. Matthews drove in two runs with a single, giving CSU a 2-0 edge.

The Cougars responded, getting their first hit with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Kelsey Hodgson then hit a two-run homer to tie the game at 2-2.

The Buccaneers took a 3-2 lead in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Kegley. The team then loaded the bases with two outs, but was unable to push any more across.

Katie Forbes led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run to knot the game at 3-3, and the teams went to extra innings after Hobbs retired the side.

CSU went scoreless in the top of the eighth, and CofC quickly loaded the bases before Kristi Woodall ended the game at 4-3 with a walk-off single.

In game two, Alexa Datko earned the victory, improving to 5-0. Hobbs gave up four runs on five hits in seven innings pitched, falling to 1-4.

Lombard batted 3-for-5 with a double and a triple to lead CSU's batters, and the Bucs registered seven hits in the second game. Eight Cougars recorded hits in the second game, led by Carly Corthell's two hits.

Game Two Box - CofC 4 - CSU 3

The Buccaneers will travel to Florida to compete in the Hatter Classic, hosted by Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. Friday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, Feb. 27. CSU will compete against Valparaiso Friday at 11 a.m. to open the tournament.