CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern used a balanced team effort on Wednesday afternoon to top visiting Savannah State at the CSU Softball Field, 8-0.

Eight different players recorded hits and five different pitchers made appearances in the circle for CSU (14-8) as the Bucs snapped a five-game losing streak with the run-rule victory over the Tigers (3-9).

Arizona Pilgrim (5-3) was the beneficiary of the win on the staff day in the circle for the Bucs. The junior ace allowed a one-out single in the first frame and recorded a strikeout in her lone inning of work.

Mallory Kasinger, Sydney Garling, and Laina Holmgren all recorded doubles in the contest with Kasinger and Holmgren both driving in a pair of RBI in the game. Kasinger and Sarah Brown both recorded a pair of runs scored in the game.

CSU struck for three in the bottom of the first inning to put the Bucs on the scoreboard early against the Tigers. The Bucs loaded the bases with two outs as Brown singled and Destini Ewing walked to move Kasinger to third. Madison Koger's base hit deflected off the pitcher's glove scoring Kasinger for the first run of the game. Holmgren followed with a double down the left field line scoring Brown and Ewing to put the Bucs ahead 3-0.

The Bucs added five more in the bottom of the second to extend the lead. Kendall Anderson sparked the rally with a leadoff single and stolen base. Annie Bakenhus followed with a single up the middle scoring Anderson to put CSU ahead 4-0. Three batters later, Kasinger connected on a double down the left field line scoring Caitlyn Emberson and Bakenhus to put the score at 6-0.

The next batter, Brown, connected on a shallow fly ball the wind picked up in centerfield. The Tigers' outfielder dropped the ball and then kicked it down the right field line. Kasinger and Brown both scored on the play to put the Bucs ahead 8-0 after two innings.

The CSU pitching staff of Emily Visnic, Alyssa Heinrich, Nicole Ayala, and Nina Del Rio allowed one hit, a walk, and a hit by pitch over the final four innings with Del Rio retiring the side in the fifth to close out the game.

News & Notes

• Charleston Southern's win over the Tigers extends the Buccaneers' home winning streak to nine consecutive games dating back to February 18 against N.C. Central.
• Laina Holmgren and Kendall Anderson both recorded their first starts in the 2018 season with Holmgren started at designated player and Anderson lining up in right field.
• Arizona Pilgrim becomes the Bucs' second pitcher to record five wins this season as Pilgrim joins freshman Alyssa Heinrich (5-1) as the two CSU players to achieve the mark.

Postgame Comments

Up Next
Charleston Southern continues tournament play this weekend at the Holy City Showdown hosted by College of Charleston at Patriots Point. The Bucs open play on Friday afternoon at 12:15 p.m. against Wright State.