CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston Southern softball team swept Furman in a doubleheader Wednesday, March 9 at Buccaneer Field. The Buccaneers won game one by a 7-5 score, and then used a six-run third inning on the way to a 10-5 victory in the second contest.

CSU advances its record to 10-11 on the season with its first doubleheader sweep of the season, while Furman is now 4-12 after dropping a pair. Charleston Southern won all three games against the Paladins this year.

The Buccaneers won their first doubleheader of the campaign. In 2010, the team posted five twin bill sweeps.

In game one, CSU stormed out to a 5-2 lead after three innings. The Paladins came back to tie it in the top of the sixth, but RBI doubles in the bottom of the sixth from Kristin Kelleher and Jessica Brock provided the winning 7-5 score.

Megan Lombard, Jana Matthews and Brock each registered two hits in game one. Brock hit one of CSU's season-high four doubles in the first game, and drove in three runs. Kelleher posted a double and two RBI. Ari Tedesco extended her hitting streak to a team-high eight games, and scored two runs.

Kimberly Hobbs earned the first-game victory, pitching one-hit softball over the final two innings, and is now 7-4 on the season. Lauren Collier drew the loss, falling to 2-8.

CSU jumped ahead early in game one, as Brock drove in Lombard in the first inning. Following a scoreless second inning, the Paladins took a 2-1 lead in the third on a two-RBI double to right-center by Collier.

The Buccaneers reclaimed the advantage at 5-2 with a four-run third inning. Kelleher drove in Tedesco while reaching on an error, tying the ballgame. Kegley followed with an RBI single. Brock then contributed a sacrifice fly to drive in Kelleher for a 4-2 lead. Matthews doubled down the left field line, pushing Courtney Konyk across the plate.

Trailing 5-2 after four innings, Furman began to chip away at the deficit in the fifth. Hannah Pace posted an RBI single, drawing to within two at 5-3. The Paladins then tied the ballgame in the top of the sixth. Furman loaded the bases with nobody out, and Stephanie Spain knocked in a run with a single. Nikki Legg scored on a passed ball, knotting the score at 5-5. Hobbs, in relief of Morgan Dowdy, got the final two players out to escape the sixth with an even score.

Tedesco led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, and a sacrifice bunt by Lombard moved Tedsco to second. The freshman outfielder then scored on a double by Kelleher. Brock followed with a double to drive in Kelleher for a 7-5 lead.

Furman managed one hit in the top of the seventh, but CSU retired the final two Paladins to seal the 7-5 victory.

Game One Box Score CSU 7 Furman 5

Charleston Southern trailed by a 4-0 score after one and a half innings of game two, but put together a six-run third inning to take an 8-5 lead. The Bucs tacked on two in the sixth for the final 10-5 score.

As in the first game, CSU hit four doubles during game two. Kegley batted 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Lombard also drove in three, going 2-for-3 with a double. Matthews and Melanie Stickney doubled as well. Melissa Adams drove in a pair during the sixth inning.

Hobbs drew the start, going three innings before leaving the game. Morgan Dowdy allowed just two hits in the remaining four innings for her third win of the season. Kayla Suskauer gave up six runs on five hits, suffering her fourth loss, while Collier allowed four runs on five hits.

Spain batted 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead Furman in game two. Stephanie Field hit 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

Collier blasted a home run to left field for a 1-0 Furman lead in the top of the first inning. The Paladins then registered three in the second, as Spain hit a three-RBI double to give the visitors a 4-0 advantage.

The Buccaneers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second. Lombard drove in Matthews with a single for CSU's first run. Kegley followed by hitting an RBI single, plating Sbardella and drawing CSU to within two at 4-2.

Furman took a 5-2 lead after Field registered an RBI double in the top of the third. Then, loading the bases with one out for the second straight inning, the Bucs broke through with six runs in the third. Kimberly Braxton hit a sacrifice fly, and Lombard drove in a pair with a double to tie the game at 5-5. Kelleher drove in Lombard with a single, and Kegley provided CSU with an 8-5 edge by hitting her fourth homer of the season.

Both teams were held off the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth innings. CSU then added a pair of insurance runs, going ahead 10-5 on a two-RBI single from Adams in the bottom of the sixth.

Game Two Box Score CSU 10 Furman 5

Postgame Interview Video

The Buccaneers will next travel to Raleigh, N.C., to compete in the N.C. State Wolfpack Challenge. CSU takes on Maine at noon Friday, March 11 to open the tournament, and will also face James Madison, Stony Brook and Fairfield on the weekend.