CHARLESTON, S.C. – A thrilling sixth-inning rally led to Charleston Southern's first victory of the weekend, knocking off Sacred Heart 5-3 in the opener, before the Bucs dropped the night cap to Virginia, 4-1 to conclude day one play of the Buc Up Tournament at the CSU Softball Complex.

GAME 1 | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 5, SACRED HEART 3
The visitors from Connecticut jumped out in front in the top-half of the second, as Grace Saad connected on a home run to left center for the 1-0 lead. It would be another inning later before the Buccaneers answered. Ashley Meckley drew a walk to start the home half of the third before moving to second with a stolen base. Two batters later, freshman Gracie Prince roped a double to the right center gap, bringing home Meckley for the game-tying run.

The Pioneers answered during their next trip to the plate. Saad again reached base on a walk, moving all the way over to third after the next two batters came to bat. She then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jenna Mowad, giving Sacred Heart (1-1) the lead once again.

It stayed that way until the explosive bottom of the sixth. Annah Junge again provided Charleston Southern (2-4) with a leadoff walk before Lilly Bishop laced a single to put two runners on. Ashlyn Cribb entered as a pitch hitter, drawing a walk and putting runners on all bases. Blake Holtorf then singled and advanced to second on the throw, scoring Junge and Bishop and moving Cribb to third. Meckley followed with a single of her own, bringing home Cribb and sliding Holtorf over to third as she also reached second on the throw. Weslin Jones then had her turn, driving in Holtorf for the RBI after growing out to third.

Sacred Heart had one last chance and it was an Amy Petrovich sacrifice fly, scoring Kylee Harvey, capping the game's scoring.

Junge went the distance in the circle for the Bucs, tossing all seven innings and scattering five hits with two of the runs earned. She struck out three of the 32 batters she faced. Bishop finished 2-of-3 at the plate, scoring once, while Prince was 2-of-4 with an RBI. Holtorf's two RBI were a team best with the Bucs drawing four walks off the Sacred Heart hurlers.

GAME 2 | VIRGINIA 4, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 1
In the night cap, things started off promising for the Buccaneers as Prince belted a solo shot over the wall to left in the bottom of the first to give the home side a 1-0 cushion. Baylee Eaton's work in the circle proved masterful early, keeping the Cavaliers off the board until the fourth when a Sarah Coon sacrifice sent Tori Gilbert across the dish.

Coon and Gilbert were back at it again in the sixth, leading the way for two more Virginia (3-4) runs, the go-ahead scores. Katie Goldberg singled to lead off before Emma McBride entered as a pinch runner. She worked her way to second on a Gilbert walk before Coon plated McBride and moved Gilbert to third on a double. Gilbert was the second to score in the inning, coming home after Kate Covington reached on an error in the infield.

After Charleston Southern (2-5) went quietly in its half of the sixth, Lauren VanAssche walked to start the seventh. She moved to second on a wild pitch and then advanced to third following a Goldberg single. Gilbert had one last turn at the plate and her sacrifice fly to left brought in the final run before Holtorf forced Coon to fly out to center and struck out Leah Boggs looking.

Eaton dropped the decision, tossing 6.0 singles with three strikeouts and surrendering six hits as she faced 27 batters. Mikayla Houge went the entire way for UVA in a three-hitter.

Bishop was the spark for CSU at the plate, going 2-of-3, while Prince provided the only other hit with her first-inning bomb.

UP NEXT
Day two of the CSU Buc Up Tournament takes place Saturday with three more games on the docket. Sacred Heart and Virginia will meet again in the opening contest at 12:30 p.m., followed by the reverse of today's action as the Buccaneers face the Cavaliers at 3 p.m. and the Pioneers at 5 p.m.