Mackenzie Rutkoff 2-9-25
Mitchell Yoder/CSU Sports
4
Bellarmine BELL 1-4
6
Winner Charleston Southern CSU 1-4
Bellarmine BELL
1-4
4
Final
6
Charleston Southern CSU
1-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Bellarmine BELL 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 4 5 2
Charleston Southern CSU 0 5 0 0 1 0 X 6 9 2

W: Rutkoff, Mackenzie (1-2) L: Claire Lehmkuhler (0-2) S: Lauffer, Riley (1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Five-Run Second Inning Leads to Buccaneers First Victory

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Southern softball team got the bats going early on Sunday afternoon, as they picked up their first win in 2025 against the Bellarmine Knights by a 6-4 score in the final day of the CSU Kickoff Tournament.
 
Bellarmine (1-4) went up 2-0 in the first inning off of Kinsey Clopton, as they scored two runs without picking up a hit. They began the game by reaching on an error by Clopton followed by two-straight walks.
 
Charleston Southern (1-4) got things going in the bottom of the second inning, as Weslin Jones and Harper Schoeneweis picked up back-to-back singles with one out. Then, Charlee Yourman reached on an error by the third baseman, which allowed Jones to score. Jordyn Dimond tied the game at two with an RBI single to the right side. Then, Weslin Jones went opposite field with a single to left field to make it 3-2. She advanced to second on the throw from the outfield. Two batters later, Carsten Sandvig made it a 5-2 game with a two-run single but was thrown out trying to advance to second base.
 
Mackenzie Rutkoff came in to relieve Clopton in the top of the second inning. She allowed two runs (1 ER) on three hits and one walk in 2.2 IP. She picked up her first win of the season to improve to 1-2. Riley Lauffer threw the final 3.1 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two. She picked up first-career save.
 
The Buccaneers added insurance in the bottom of the fifth inning, Sandvig singled, stole second and came around to score on an RBI single by Emma Villaescusa.
 
Sandvig and Villaescusa led the Buccaneers at the plate, both picking up two hits on the afternoon. Sandvig was the leading hitter for the Buccaneers on the weekend, going 6 for 12 in the tournament with a home run and a triple.
 
On Deck
Charleston Southern is back at home next weekend, as they will be hosting the Blue/Gold Classic at CSU Softball Field. They will play at 3:00 PM against UNC Wilmington followed by a 5:30 start time against Central Connecticut State. All four of their games on Friday and Saturday will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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