CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern sophomore outfielder Jana Matthews hit a walk-off home run to seal a 5-4 win over Elon in game one Thursday, March 24. Elon's Erin O'Shea then pitched a one-hit shutout in game two, as the Phoenix prevailed, 6-0, to split the doubleheader.

With the 1-1 showing on Thursday, Charleston Southern is now 13-18 on the season. Elon snapped a six-game losing streak with the game-two victory, and the Phoenix now has a 14-11 record.

CSU took a 4-1 lead into the seventh inning of game one, but Elon tied the game with a three-run seventh. Matthews then hit a one-out home run, driving in her third run of the game and giving CSU the 5-4, walk-off win.

Matthews batted 3-for-4 in game one, with a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI. She is now tied with Erin Kegley for the team lead with five homers this year. Melanie Stickney went a career-best 2-for-2, walked, and scored a run. Megan Lombard went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Carleigh Nester and Tomeka Watson both went 2-for-4, accounting for three RBI between them. Jackie Gonzalez batted 1-for-2 with two runs scored for the Phoenix.

Morgan Dowdy improved to 5-11 on the season, allowing four runs on eight hits, including three runs and four hits in the seventh. Pam DelPizzo drew the loss, allowing CSU's final two runs in four innings pitched while in relief of Lauren Taylor.

CSU had the makings of a big first inning, loading the bases with nobody out as Lombard, Kelleher and Kegley reached base. Matthews singled for a 1-0 lead. The Buccaneers stranded three runners, as Taylor escaped the first allowing only one run.

A scoreless second inning ensued, as Dowdy pitched a 1-2-3 frame and Taylor retired Kelleher with two outs and Stickney on third base.

Elon tied the game in the top of the third inning, as Gonzalez scored on a throwing error after a groundout. A pair of groundouts ended Elon's half of the third at 1-1. CSU then reclaimed the lead, as Matthews doubled in pinch runner Lizzy Olmstead, and was then driven in by a Stickney single. Ari Tedesco was tagged out on a close play at the plate, and CSU led, 3-1, after three innings.

Both Dowdy and DelPizzo kept the opponent off the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth innings. The Bucs then manufactured a run, as Sitckney was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a Melissa Adams groundout. Lombard drove in Sitckney for a 4-1 edge.

The Phoenix strung together four hits in the top of the seventh, and tied the game at 4-4 after Watson hit a two-RBI single, plating Nester and Gonzalez. Emerald Graham popped out to end the top of the seventh.

Matthews ended the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh, belting a homer to right-center field for the 5-4 CSU victory.

Game One Box Score

While both teams hit well in game one, Elon's Erin O'Shea pitched a one-hitter, holding CSU scoreless in a 6-0 victory in the second contest. Elon scored runs in each inning from the fourth on to total its six runs.

O'Shea (5-4) pitched her second shutout of the season, allowing just one hit and striking out four. She hit three batters and allowed two walks, as a total of six Buccaneers reached base. Kimberly Hobbs (8-7) pitched six innings, yielding five runs, four earned, on nine hits. Dowdy allowed one run in the seventh inning.

Nester, Watson and DelPizzo all registered two hits for Elon in the second contest, with Watson scoring twice and DelPizzo driving in three. Danielle Lafferty hit a home run in the seventh inning.

Hayes Holdsworth recorded CSU's only base hit in game two, singling to lead off the third inning. Trea Steele was hit by two pitches, and Matthews was hit once.

Neither team earned many scoring chances in the early going, as O'Shea and Hobbs pitched effectively. Each team registered just one hit through the first three innings.

Holdsworth singled to lead off the bottom of the third, and Lombard walked with two outs. Kelleher flied out to end the third inning, with the score remaining tied at 0-0.

Elon took advantage of extra opportunities in the top of the fourth, as DelPizzo hit a foul ball which was dropped by the CSU third baseman. A few pitches later, DelPizzo drove in a run with a single. Three Phoenix runners were subsequently stranded, leaving the score at 1-0.

CSU had a player reach second base with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but Courtney Konyk was left on base when the third out was recorded.

DelPizzo came through with a two-RBI single in the fifth, giving Elon a 3-0 advantage. The Phoenix added two more in the sixth on back-to-back RBI singles from Nester and Watson.

Following a three-batter bottom of the sixth for CSU, Elon tacked on a sixth run when Lafferty hit a home run off of Dowdy. The Bucs placed two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but O'Shea put the finishing touches on the one-hit shutout by getting Jasmine Conley to line out to end the ballgame.

Game Two Box Score

CSU vs. Elon Highlights

The Buccaneers and Phoenix will conclude their three-game series Friday, March 25, with the contest starting at 2 p.m. at Buccaneer Field.