CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern softball will stay away from the friendly confines of the CSU Softball Complex for a Wednesday night doubleheader at South Carolina with both games picked up on SEC Network+. The Buccaneers and Gamecocks will meet at 5 and 7 p.m. as the Bucs turn the corner to a new month of action.

WEEKEND RECAP
Charleston Southern brings a 5-8 record into the two-game set after splitting its four games at the Liberty Softball Classic in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Bucs opened the event Friday by defeating Maine 8-5 and earning their first shutout of the season with a 3-0 triumph over the host Flames later that evening. CSU was then swept Saturday in a doubleheader versus George Washington.

POWERING THE LONG BALL
Raleigh Lewis returned to the lineup at the tournament and knocked a pair of home runs over the fence, giving her a team-best three on the season. Nipping at her heels with two apiece are SeaEnna Satcher, Gracie Prince and Madison Koger. Ashley Meckley also has added one to her early-season resume.

Lewis also paces the squad with a 1.424 OPS, .893 slugging percentage, .531 on-base percentage and 11 RBI. Her 13 hits slot her into a second-place tie with Lilly Bishop, trailing Meckley by one. Six Buccaneers are in double figures with another at nine.

SWIPING SUCCESS
Meckley is the team's best on the base paths, as she is a perfect 6-of-6 on stolen bases through the first-13 games. Weslin Jones is the only other Bucs player to attempt a steal thus far, converting 1-of-2.

STRONG ARMED
In the circle, Annah Junge has captured four of the team's five victories, including a complete-game shutout at Liberty Friday. She's also the team leader with a 2.12 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP, tossing a CSU-best 36.1 innings pitched.

PUTTING IN WORK
Joining Junge as innings eaters in the circle have been Blake Holtorf and Baylee Eaton. Holtorf, in her first collegiate campaign, has tossed 25.0 innings with a 3.92 ERA, while limiting the opposition to a team-low seven walks. Eaton owns a 3.67 ERA over 21.0 innings, striking out 11 batters with 11 earned runs against, tying Junge for the lowest total of the regulars.

ABOUT THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina have started the 2022 campaign with an 8-5 mark; however, the Gamecocks have lost their last-three games, falling to Miami (Ohio), No. 7 Virginia Tech and Ohio State over the weekend at the Carolina Classic.

The Bucs have won just two times in the series, the last in 2012. CSU also won the inaugural meeting in 1988, played in the Holy City.