GREENVILLE, SC - The Charleston Southern softball team traveled to Greenville for a midweek doubleheader against Furman. The Buccaneers dropped a pair of close contests, falling 5-4 in game one and 8-5 in game two.

GAME ONE
Charleston Southern struck first in the third inning as Blakley Kingsmore singled to left field and stole second. She advanced to third on a ground out and later scored on an RBI ground out to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead.

Furman responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs to take a 2-1 advantage.

The Bucs evened the score in the fourth when Carsten Sandvig led off with a double to right field and later came home on an RBI ground out. Ashton Giet drew a walk in the inning but was left stranded.

The Paladins answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to regain control, 5-2.

In the sixth, Maddie Lee singled up the middle and Sandvig reached on a fielder's choice. Lorenzza Marcacci singled through the left side to bring Sandvig home, and Charlee Yourman doubled to center field bringing Marcacci across to cut the deficit 5-4. 

Brenna Conley started in the circle, tossing 3.1 innings while allowing four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. Riley Lauffer added 2.2 innings of relief, giving up one run on three hits with one strikeout.

GAME TWO
Kingsmore set the tone early in game two, leading off the first with a single before stealing both second and third. Jordyn Dimond and Sandvig each drew walks to load the bases, and a sacrifice fly brought Kingsmore home for a 1-0 lead.

Furman responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead.

In the second, Harper Schoeneweis doubled to center field before Yourman drove her in with a single up the middle. Kingsmore singled to short before advancing to second on an error. Dimond singled up the middle and brought Yourman and Kingsmore home. Sandvig then singled up the middle bringing Dimond home to give the Bucs a 5-3 advantage. 

The Paladins chipped away with one run in the second, then added three in the fifth and one in the sixth to take an 8-5 lead.

In the seventh, Kingsmore singled and Sandvig walked before Lee loaded the bases with a single to right field, but the Bucs were unable to capitalize.

Lauffer earned the start, pitching four innings and allowing seven runs on nine hits with one strikeout. Conley provided two innings of relief, surrendering one run on three hits.

UP NEXT
Charleston Southern hits the road this weekend for a conference series against Presbyterian. First pitch for Friday's opener is set for 5:00 p.m., followed by a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. All games will be streamed on ESPN+.

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