CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team (24-7) was clipped 2-1 by the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (10-6) on Tuesday afternoon in Charleston, S.C.
The Chanticleers matched the Bucs with six hits apiece but two late runs in the bottom of the sixth inning gave CSU the win.
Senior
Diamond Williams got the Chants off to an early lead in the top of the first inning when she sent a home run soaring over the center-field wall on the second pitch of the game to put CCU 1-0 up.
The score remained at 1-0 for the next three innings with
Raelee Brabham pitching two 1-2-3 innings and striking out 10 hitters while CSU's Riley Laufer recorded a three-up, three-down inning of her own and secured two strikeouts.
The Chants looked to push ahead in the top of the sixth inning when
Iyanla De Jesus slotted a single up the middle to get things going. This was followed by a single from
Maddy Jennings to left field and a sacrifice bunt from
Abbey Montoya to put runners on second and third base. However, the Bucs held strong to strike out the final hitter to send the Chants back on defense.
CSU fought back in the bottom of the sixth inning when Ashley Meckley struck a leadoff double to left-center field to ignite its offense. Raleigh Lewis then leveled the score at 1-1 after she crushed a single to left center field to drive in Meckley from second base. The Bucs took the lead when Gracie Prince smashed the second double of the inning to left field to drive in one RBI to put CSU up 2-1.
CCU looked to build some momentum of its own in the top of the seventh inning when
Indya Smith and Williams hit back-to-back singles but the Bucs were able to hold off the Chants and secure the 2-1 victory.
Brabham set a new career-high for the third time in the season with 14 strikeouts but fell to 9-3 with the loss after giving up two runs in 6.0 innings of work.
The Chanticleers stay on the road as they head to Atlanta, Ga., to face Georgia State in their second conference three-game series of the season, March 24-26.
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (Twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
