CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern softball scored first but visiting Presbyterian countered with its offensive explosion in its next turn at-bat, as the Blue Hose captured a series-opening 4-1 Big South victory at CSU Softball Complex Friday night.

FINDING THE GROOVE IN THE FOURTH
The Buccaneers were unable to get much offense going through the first-three frames, as a first inning walk issued to Raleigh Lewis was the only base runner. That changed in the home half of the fourth as Ashley Meckley led off the stanza by beating a toss down to first base. She advanced all the way to third on the play, as Jenna Greene's errant throw was not caught by Jillian Hewes and the ball sailed into the right-field corner.

Two batters later, Lilly Bishop singled down the opposite line, bringing Meckley home for a 1-0 Charleston Southern advantage.

BLUE HOSE COUNTER
Unfortunately for CSU, it didn't take Presbyterian (21-7, 7-3 Big South) long to answer. Back-to-back one-out singles by Layna Johnson and Kaitlyn Tucker put two runners on base. Both players a base when Lath Freeman followed suit with a single of her own, but a throw home was off the mark, and each runner moved up an additional base, resulting in Johnson scoring and Tucker and Freeman in scoring position. Following a second out on a ground out to shortstop, Morgan Hess burst open the scoring with a three-run home run to dead center field to make it 4-1.

ONE LAST CHANCE
The Bucs threatened one more time, in the bottom of the sixth, as Weslin Jones led off with a single up the middle. She moved to second on a ground out and then over to third on a wild pitch. Following another base on balls to Lewis, putting runners on the corners, neither one were able to advance any further.

STANDOUT DEFENSIVE PLAY
Perhaps the top defensive play of the season thus far for Charleston Southern (14-18, 4-6 Big South) ended PC's top of the sixth inning. Kara Starnes popped up directly at home plate. Gracie Prince, the CSU catcher, secured the catch in foul territory and then gunned a hard throw down to first, with second baseman Madison Koger covering, to double-up Kelby Goodrum.

UP NEXT
The two league rivals will meet again Saturday in doubleheader action with the first contest set to begin at 1 p.m.