HONOLULU, Hawaii – Charleston Southern wrapped up two weeks of play in Hawaii with a grand slam comeback over Marist and a one-run loss to Toledo to split on their final day of the Outrigger Resorts Spring Fling at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Buccaneers (11-18) were topped by Toledo (10-16) 2-1 on Saturday morning.  CSU finished strong that afternoon, topping Marist (9-6) 9-6 after Caitlyn Emberson sparked a comeback with a home run and a grand slam accounting for seven of CSU's nine runs.

The Buccaneers now turn their attention back home as they open Big South Conference play next weekenf against Liberty.  First pitch between the Bucs and the Flames is set for 3:00 p.m. on Friday.

Game One: Toledo 2, Charleston Southern 1

A Rockets' rally in the bottom of the seventh pushed Toledo past Charleston Southern, 2-1, on Saturday morning.

The Buccaneers failed to come alive at the plate and were held to just two hits in the contest.  After Toledo got a run across in the bottom of second, Stephanie Bergmann evened the score in the top of the third with a home run over left field to open the inning.

The Rockets loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth frame with one out, but a tough CSU defense stepped up to hold Toledo scoreless through the inning. 

The Bucs were unable to record a hit in their next two at-bats and the Rockets returned to the plate for a shot at the win in the bottom of the seventh. 

Ashley Rausch led Toledo off with a single to center field.  Samantha Showalter moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt and both runners advanced on a throwing error.  CSU walked the next batter for the forceout at home and Cheyenne Gandara (3-6) retired the following batter to give the Bucs their first out. 

A hard single up the middle from Kaitlyn Cozy brought across the run and sealed the 2-1 win for Toledo.

Game Two: Charleston Southern 9, Marist 6

Caitlyn Emberson sparked a Buccaneer comeback with home run and a grand slam in CSU's 9-6 tournament finale win over Marist.

The Buccaneers got off to a rocky start as the Red Foxes scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Kallen Leeseberg (1-3) struck out four of the Bucs' next six batters and Marist added to their lead with a solo home run from Janna Korak in the bottom of the third frame to put the score at 5-0.

The Bucs rallied in the fourth as Stevi Johnson walked and Cheyenne Gandara singled to left field to put two runners on base with one out.  Emberson put the Bucs back in the ballgame with a home run to left field on a 3-1 count to put the score at 5-3 after three and a half innings.

Holly Clark (5-4) held the Red Foxes hitless in the bottom of the frame to give the Bucs a shot at a comeback with two innings left to play.  Brittany McPherson walked and Amanda Matsumoto singled to left field to put runners on first and second with one out.  Another walk loaded the bases and a disciplined at-bat from Cheyenne Gandara for the walk brought in a run as the Bucs trailed Marist 5-4 with Emberson at the plate. 

The sophomore slugger battled through a full count, fouling off several pitches before connecting on a grand slam to deep center field for her second home run of the game and the 8-5 CSU lead.

The Bucs recorded their final run of the contest in the top of the seventh with a single to right center from Georgi Delio that scored Sydney Garling.  Marist tried to rally back during their last at bat, but were unable to execute as Clark struck out the last two batters for the 9-6 CSU win.