RADFORD, Va. – Charleston Southern Softball saw its 2023 campaign come to a close Friday morning they fell just short in the elimination round of the Big South Tournament, losing 4-2 to No. 3-seeded USC Upstate. 

Charleston Southern found themselves down 4-1 headed into the last frame but made a little noise. They loaded the bases after Ashley Meckley singled Anna Grace Johnson around to score and make it 4-2. The next at bat saw a sharp liner be caught and quickly be throw over to second to double the Bucs up and end the game with the winning run at first base.

USC Upstate got things started in the second inning as a CSU miscue allowed the first run of the contest to come across. The third frame saw the Spartans double the advantage with a Tiffany Domingue solo shot to right. 

The fifth inning was also large for the Spartans as they would add two more to again double their advantage and make it a 4-0 contest. 

The Bucs answered in the top of the sixth inning, stealing a run and keeping them in it with just four outs to play with. After the first two hitters were retired in the frame, Charlee Yourman would single before Maddie Lee came on to run for her. Gracie Prince would then draw a walk before Harper Schoeneweis' single through the right side was enough to bring Lee around.

After the two-run fifth, Annah Junge would toss a clean sixth frame to keep the Bucs within striking distance with one final inning remaining. 

The Bucs led the seventh off with a walk from Johnson before Weslin Jones singled to right. Jones and Johnson both took an extra base off a Spartan miscue and the tying run came to the plate. Meckley then singled to right to score Johnson and Cadence Walding walked to load the bases. Yourman followed that up with a liner to third that ended up being caught and throw over to second to double CSU up and end the game.

On Deck
The loss in the elimination game brings Charleston Southern's 2023 campaign to a close as the Bucs have made the tournament each of the past two seasons.