CHARLESTON, S.C. – It was the tale of two freshmen Saturday for the Charleston Southern softball team, as Blake Holtorf went the distance in the circle as the Bucs knocked off Virginia in the opener before Gracie Prince sent a long ball over the left-field fence for a home run in the night cap against Sacred Heart on day two of the CSU Buc Up Tournament.

GAME 1 | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 5, VIRGINIA 2
Just over five years after Charleston Southern's last win over a Power 5 Conference opponent, the Buccaneers road the pitching of Holtorf to their first under head coach Christi Musser. That last Power 5 triumph, also coming against Virginia at the CSU Softball Complex Feb. 17, 2017, started in the bottom of the first with the Bucs jumping out to a 3-0 lead.

Ashley Meckley laid down a bunt single to open the half inning before moving over to second on a Weslin Jones, another freshman, single to put the first-two runners on. After the next two batters recorded outs and Meckley shifting over to third on a sacrifice fly by Lilly Bishop, the early Charleston Southern (3-5) magic was on. Jones took off on a steal for second, and while doing so, Meckley sprinted home for the game's first run. Jones then advanced to third on a passed ball before SeaEnna Satcher belted a home run to left center for two RBI and giving the Bucs the 3-0 advantage.

The Cavaliers added a marker on their side of the scoring column in the top of the third. Bailey Winscott opened the Virginia (4-5) half with a double down the right field line. She then moved to third after Lauren VanAssche singled to left. Another single by Katie Goldberg brought home Winscott and slid VanAssche to the opposite corner. The threat was ended when Sarah Coon hit into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the inning.

With Holtorf's mastery inside the circle, the Buccaneers offense went back to work in the bottom of the fourth. Bishop hit a lead-off double to right field and was relieved on the basepaths by Erika Cooper. Satcher then was hit by an Aly Rayle pitch before an Annah Junge fielder's choice moved both runners into scoring position. Madison Koger drove in both Cooper and Satcher with a bases-clearing double to left center, ending Rayle's day.

The Cavaliers tacked on one more in the top of the sixth when Coon went yard to straight-away center field but they would threaten no more as Holtorf surrendered just one hit the rest of the way.

The freshman hurler from San Antonio scattered eight hits, just two runs (both earned) and two strikeouts in facing all 29 batters. She also issued no walks.

Satcher was 1-of-2 on the night, driving in a pair and scoring two herself in an all-around offensive display.

GAME 2 | SACRED HEART 2, CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 1
The quick turnaround put CSU into the visitors' spot in the second game against the Pioneers, flipping roles despite being on their home field.

It took awhile for either side to get going but Satcher and Grace Saad traded hits in the second but were each left on base entering the third. Ashlyn Cribb started the half inning with a single right up the middle but was unable to advance passed that.

Sacred Heart (2-2) scored its two runs in the bottom of the fourth after Alyssa Gonzalez walked. She then moved to second on an Emily Carroll single before Cayla Nista came on as a pinch runner. Grace Saad laced a triple to right, bringing in the Pioneers' only runs of the day before Baylee Eaton settled down in the circle to get the remaining outs.

Charleston Southern (3-6) was unable to muster much offense until the top of the seventh when Prince led off with a home run over the left-field fence. Bishop followed with a double to right field before Taylor Gleason came in as a pinch runner. She advanced to third on a wild pitch as Koger drew a walk, the only one of the night, off Sarah Lawton. With runners on the corners and two outs, an infield popup ended the contest.

Eaton took the loss in the circle for the Buccaneers, giving up both runs with a strikeout, walk and just five hits in 4.0 innings. Annah Junge finished the game with the final 2.0 innings, registering a pair of strikeouts among her eight batters faced.

The four hits for the Bucs came off bats by Prince, Bishop, Holtorf and Cribb against the strong pitching performance by Lawton.

UP NEXT
The CSU Buc Up Tournament concludes Sunday with a single, neutral-site contest between Sacred Heart and Virginia at 10 a.m.

Charleston Southern returns to action next weekend at the Liberty Softball Classic in Lynchburg, Virginia, where it will face Maine, the host Flames and George Washington in four total games over the two days, Friday and Saturday.