CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston Southern softball team was back at home on Wednesday, hosting Queens University of Charlotte for a mid-week doubleheader.
In a game that went nine innings, the Buccaneers were able to walk off the Royals by a 7-6 score in game one before being shut out in game two by a 4-0 score.
Game One
Harper Schoeneweis was the hero for the Buccaneers (15-18), bringing home
Blakley Kingsmore in the ninth inning, as the Buccaneers overcame a 23-minute rain delay outlasting the Royals (10-23).
The Buccaneers jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the Royals, as
Jordyn Dimond broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI double. This was one of three runs for the Buccaneers in that inning before adding two more in the bottom of the fourth on a double by
Emma Villaescusa.
Mackenzie Rutkoff was through 4.0 innings of shutout softball before running into trouble in the top of the fifth inning, as the Royals were able to trim the deficit to one with four runs in fifth inning. The Buccaneers got some insurance in the bottom half of the sixth inning with a solo home run from
Charlee Yourman. It was the junior's first collegiate home run and capped off a three-hit game.
Kinsey Clopton came on in relief in the top of the sixth inning and struck out the side, but she allowed the game-tying, two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning that sent the game to extra innings. She improved to 6-5 on the season while picking up the win, going 4.0 innings and striking out seven batters. Rutkoff did not walk a batter in her 5.0 innings of work, striking out four batters. The Buccaneers tied for a season high with 13 hits.
Game Two
The Buccaneers did not have the same luck at the plate in the second game of the doubleheader, as they picked up only two hits and had just three baserunners the entire game.
Brenna Conley allowed four runs in 3.1 innings of work. She suffered the defeat to fall to 1-5 on the season.
Riley Lauffer did not allow a run in her 3.2 innings of relief.
On Deck
The Buccaneers will look to win their third-straight conference series this weekend, as they host the Radford Highlanders beginning on Friday at 5:00 PM. Saturday will feature a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM, and all three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
