CHARLESTON, S.C. — Charleston Southern was unable to generate much offense, registering just three hits and none until the fifth inning, as it fell 1-0 to visiting Longwood in Sunday's Big South series finale from the CSU Softball Complex.
 
LOOKING FOR A HIT
Lancers starter in the circle, Sydney Backstrom, kept the Buccaneers bats quiet through the first-four innings. A chopper over the third baseman's head by Annah Junge, Backstrom's counterpart, came with one out in the home half of the fifth.
 
Another hit for Charleston Southern (10-16, 2-4 Big South) occurred the next time it was at-bat. Weslin Jones worked a leadoff walk but a double play emptied the bases. Gracie Prince then also walked and moved over to third on a SeaEnna Satcher single. Unfortunately, neither advanced any further.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bucs had their best offensive chance. Junge hit a hard single to short, reaching base for the second time. She moved up 60 feet on a misplayed ball by the Longwood shortstop off the bat of Erika Cooper. A passed ball advanced both Junge and Cooper another base, putting both runners in scoring position. However, the threat ended without either crossing home plate, ending the contest.

JUNGE HOLDING HER OWN IN THE CIRCLE
Although she was credited with the loss, Junge managed to put together another solid outing in the circle. She went the distance for her seventh complete game of the spring, holding the Lancers to eight hits while striking out four.

Longwood (9-16, 3-3 Big South) scratched the only run across in the top of the fifth. Lauren Fox put the wheels in motion with a single. A fielding error by the Buccaneers moved her over to second with Jaden Pone reaching base. Sydne Guess then reached on a fielder's choice, as her at-bat saw the ball return to the Junge, who turned and got the force out of lead-runner Fox at third base.

Kayley Devivi then singled up the middle, plating Pone from second. The Lancers would load the bases again but Junge induced a pop-up caught by Ashley Meckley at short to end the inning.

JONES STELLAR DEFENSIVELY
Not only did she reach base in four plate appearances on a walk in the bottom of the sixth, Jones put together a solid defensive showing to keep the Bucs in the game. Her most spectacular play came in the top of the second, as she battled swirling winds by twisting her body in every direction to chase down a long fly to the warning track by Kelly Park before securing the out in left field.

Jones had the put out in the top of the third, as well, taking a long run on a ball by Fox to get her glove on it just inside the foul line for the inning's first out. Jones finished with four put outs, on all four chances, keeping her with a perfect fielding percentage in her last-five games, totaling 16 put outs over that span.

UP NEXT
Charleston Southern will step out of town for the first time in league action for its next series, traveling to Boiling Springs, North Carolina, for a Friday-Saturday set at Gardner-Webb. Play against the Runnin' Bulldogs gets underway at 6 p.m. Friday in a single game before Saturday's doubleheader.