LYNCHBURG, Va. - Charleston Southern built a rally in the seventh inning, but the Bucs were unable to overcome a three-run deficit in a 4-1 setback at Liberty Saturday, April 9. The Lady Flames claim victory in the three-game series with their second win on the weekend.

The Buccaneers are now 17-24 on the season, including a 4-4 Big South Conference mark. Liberty advances to 14-17 with a 5-3 record in league play.

Liberty's Katrina Johnson (9-5) earned the win, allowing one run on five hits in six innings pitched. Tiffani Smith posted a save by pitching the final two-thirds of an inning. Morgan Dowdy drew the loss, yielding four runs on seven hits in five innings. Kimberly Hobbs pitched a scoreless sixth in relief.

Megan Lombard posted a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including a leadoff double, and was also hit by a pitch. Ari Tedesco added a double in the seventh, and Jana Matthews scored CSU's lone run.

Ashley Bensinger led the way for the Lady Flames, driving in three runs with two triples and scoring Liberty's fourth tally. Keely McMillon and Jenny Law also batted 2-for-3.

Lombard led off the game by lacing a double, her 10th of the season, to left center field. Following a lineout to left by Kelleher, Kegley was hit by a pitch. Johnson escaped the inning with a zero on the scoreboard by getting the final two batters out.

The Lady Flames recorded one single in each of the first two innings of the game. Dowdy and the CSU defense shut the door on Liberty in both innings, not allowing a runner to get past second base.

Liberty's defense held CSU down over the second and third innings. The Bucs went in order in the top of the second, and Lombard reached via a hit by pitch in the third. Lombard served as CSU's only baserunner in the third inning.

Liberty took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. DePasquale walked and Shivock reached on an error. A groundout to third and a lineout to Brock gave CSU two outs, bringing Bensinger to the plate. Bensinger sliced a two-run triple down the right field line for a 2-0 Liberty advantage. A foulout to Brock ended the frame.

CSU pulled to within one run at 2-1, scoring once in the top of the third inning. Johnson loaded the bases with one out, a stretch which included a single to center by Brock. Steele drove in Jana Matthews for the Bucs' first run of the game. Johnson then struck out Melissa Adams and Tedesco to end the inning with Liberty still in the lead.

Dowdy worked through a jam in the bottom of the third inning after yielding a leadoff double to West. A strikeout ensued, and Dowdy recorded assists on the last two outs of the inning to hold the score at 2-1.

Following a scoreless top of the fifth, Bensinger gave Liberty a 3-1 lead with her second RBI triple of the game. Law drove in Bensinger with a two-out single for the Lady Flames' fourth run.

Hobbs entered to pitch in the sixth inning. After allowing a single with one out, Hobbs worked out of trouble to keep CSU within striking distance at 4-1.

Steele walked to lead off the Buccaneer seventh. Tedesco slammed a double off the center field fence with one out. Smith then took circle in relief of Johnson, recording the final two outs to earn the save.

The Buccaneers play two more contests in Virginia, as the team heads to Farmville to take on Longwood in a doubleheader Sunday, April 10 at noon. Liberty will compete in a twin bill at James Madison Wednesday, April 13 at 4 p.m.