FARMVILLE, Va. – A career-high tying 10 strikeouts for Charleston Southern's Annah Junge, the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and a third-inning offensive outburst propelled the Buccaneers' softball team to a 3-1 victory over Presbyterian in the first game of the Big South Tournament Wednesday afternoon in Farmville, Va.

JUNGE LIMITS THE BLUE HOSE
A day after being selected as the top academic performer in the league and to the All-Big South Academic Team, Junge showed why she has been the ace in the circle all spring for head coach Christi Musser's Bucs.

She finished her complete game with 10 strikeouts, equaling a career best she originally set at College of Charleston April 20, and scattering five hits among the 28 batters she faced. It's her 17th complete game of the campaign and moves her season record to above .500 at 13-12 in 23 starts and 30 appearances.

BREAKING OPEN THE GATES IN THE THIRD
No. 5-seed Charleston Southern (27-26) erupted for all of its scoring in the top of the third. Ashley Meckley, a member of the league's all-conference second team, worked a walk with one out then advanced to second on a fly out in the next at-bat off the bat of Lilly Bishop. After Raleigh Lewis also was issued a base on balls to put two runners on base, SeaEnna Satcher rirpped a single up the middle to plate Meckley for the game's first score.

The two-out pressure continued to mount for the Blue Hose, as Madison Koger followed with a double over the right fielder's head, hitting the base of the wall. The extra-base knock cleared the bases as Lewis and Satcher both came around to score, padding the cushion to 3-0.

JUST ONE IN THE SIXTH
Junge kept No. 4-seed Presbyterian (34-14) from creating much of an offensive threat other than the sixth inning, as the Blue Hose had only six players left on base in the contest, half of which came in that aforementioned frame when they scored their only run.

Layna Johnson opened the inning with a single up the middle but she was quickly retired as Kaitlyn Tucker bunted into a fielder's choice, as the CSU defense secured the force out as catcher Gracie Prince made the play down to Meckley covering second base. Lath Freeman then battled through an extended at-bat to double to left center, moving Tucker to third with one out. Jillian Hewes reached on a fielder's choice but neither of the other two runners were able to advance, as PC loaded the bases for Morgan Hess. Hess then walked, plating Tucker to break up the shutout, but Junge worked herself out of the jame with back-to-back strikeouts to leave the bases packed.

KOGER'S BIG DAY
The second baseman was the lone Bucs hitter with multiple hits and the only one of extra bases in the Charleston Southern lineup. Bishop and Satcher also had hits for the Buccaneers.

UP NEXT
The Bucs stay alive in the winner's bracket, advancing to Thursday's action where they will meet regular-season champion and No. 1-seed USC Upstate in the day's first game at 11 a.m. Times for all of Thursday's contests are being adjusted in preparation for the chance of inclement weather later in the week. Charleston Southern has at least two games remaining in the double-elimination tournament.

All games will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats also available. Links are posted on CSUSports.com.