SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Charleston Southern softball team began conference play this weekend with three-straight losses to the USC Upstate Spartans. They dropped both games in a doubleheader on Saturday, losing 3-2 in game one and 4-0 in game two, while falling 9-0 in five innings in game three on Sunday.

Game One
The Bucs (9-16, 0-3 in conference) had a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the fifth inning before the Spartans (25-3, 3-0 in conference) took the 3-2 lead with back-to-back home runs into center field. 

Upstate took a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single, but the Bucs responded in the top of the third inning when Cadence Walding led off the inning with a double and scored on a wild pitch. 

The Bucs took the lead in the top of the fifth. Lacy Johnson led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Then, Walding brought home Johnson with her second double on the afternoon. 

Annah Junge took the loss for the Bucs to fall to 8-4 on the season. She went 6.0 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. 

Game Two
The pitching success continued for the Spartans in game two, as they shut out the Bucs in the second game of the twin bill. 

A four-run fifth inning is all that Upstate needed to claim victory. Three-straight singles and a fielder's choice is how the inning started. Then, a sacrifice bunt allowed for a run to score. The Bucs made two errors in the inning.

Riley Lauffer fell to 1-11 on the season after taking the loss. She allowed 4 runs (1 earned) on 8 hits, 1 walk and 1 strikeout.

Walding continued her success at the plate, going 2 for 3 in the game. Harper Schoeneweis was also 2 for 3, as the two combined for the Bucs only hits. 

Game 3
The bats woke up for the Spartans in game three on Sunday, scoring three runs in each of the first three innings to take the early 9-0 lead and beating the Bucs in five innings. 

Annah Junge went 2.0 innings, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 5 hits, 2 walks and a strikeout. She took the loss to fall to 8-5 on the year. Riley Lauffer came in as a relief pitcher and pitched the final 2.0 innings for the Bucs. She allowed 3 runs on 1 hit and 3 walks. 

On Deck
The Bucs are back at CSU Softball Complex this week, as they play a doubleheader with Coastal Carolina on Tuesday. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+. Game one begins at 2 p.m.