ROCK HILL, S.C. - The No. 4 Charleston Southern softball team lost their first game in the 2024 Big South softball tournament on Thursday night, as the No. 1 USC Upstate Spartans came out on top by a 6-3 score at Terry Field on the campus of Winthrop University. 

USC Upstate (28-20, 14-5 in conference) scored all five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs, as they led off the inning with back-to-back singles. With the bases loaded and two outs, the Bucs (23-26, 9-10 in conference) allowed two runs to score on a throwing error followed by a two-run double to make it 5-1. 

Charleston Southern broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the third inning when Weslin Jones brought in Emma Villaescusa with an RBI triple. In the top of the fifth inning, Jones and Gracie Prince both had RBI singles to draw within two runs.

The Bucs had an opportunity in the top of the sixth inning, but after further review, Lacy Johnson was called out for obstruction while running to third base on a groundball to the shortstop. With two outs and runners on the corners, a groundout to second base ended the inning. 

Weslin Jones was the leading hitter for the Bucs at the plate, as she went 2 for 4 with two RBI's. Nealy Lamb was charged with the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in 3.1 innings pitched. She fell to 12-9 on the year. Riley Lauffer provided 2.2 innings of relief allowing just one run on three hits. 

On Deck
Charleston Southern will have a quick wake-up call on Friday morning, as they will take on No. 2 Longwood in an elimination game beginning at 11 AM. 

The winner of this game will play the losing team from the winner's bracket game between No. 3 Winthrop and No. 1 USC Upstate at 5 PM. All games will be streamed on ESPN+.