Columbia
Charleston Southern
Fifth-Inning Rally Falls Short As Charleston Southern Claims 10-9 Victory
3/15/2016 2:23:00 PM | Softball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – A game-tying fifth-inning rally fell just short as Charleston Southern (12-13) was able to take a run in the sixth to claim a 10-9 win over the Lions (3-11) on Tuesday afternoon.
The Lions wasted no time in the top of the first as Maddie Gott got things going with two outs, ripping her first double of the season into the right-field gap to put a runner on. With the help of back-to-back doubles by Taylor Troutt and Alexandra Yule, the Lions were able to get on the board first with a 2-0 lead.
The two-out rally wouldn't end there, however, as the Lions capitalized on a Charleston Southern error before Kayla Maloney could send a two-RBI double into the right-center gap to give Columbia a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.
Unfortunately with the help of a two-out error by Columbia, the Bucs were able to cut the Lions' lead down to 4-2 with a pair of unearned runs before Maloney was able to get a popup to end the inning and strand a pair on base.
That momentum continued for the Buccaneers in the bottom of the third as they put together five runs on five hits and a Columbia error, but Reilly Metzger was able to grab the two-out RBI base hit in right and fire home to cut the runner down at the plate and hold the CSU lead at 7-4 heading into the fourth.
After the Bucs were able to extend their lead to 9-4 with a pair of runs in the fourth, the Lions began to battle back in the top of the fifth as Kerry Cook opened things up with a base hit into left field. With the help of a hit batter and a CSU fielding error to load the bases with two outs, Tonia Wu and Kayla Maloney were able to team up for back-to-back two-RBI doubles before Maura Lynch could send a RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 9-9.
Still tied up in the bottom of the sixth, the Bucs were able to take advantage of a pair of Columbia errors to give Charleston Southern a 10-9 lead heading into the seventh.
Down to their final three outs, the Lions began to rally as Tonia Wu was able to battle back with her second double of the day, blasting a one-out shot into the right-center gap to put the tying run at second for the Lions.
Unfortunately the Lions were unable to bring home Wu as the Bucs picked up the next two outs to end the game and seal a 10-9 victory.
Hayley Elkins (6-8) earned the win after throwing 2.0 innings of scoreless work, allowing only two hits while striking out a pair. Tessa Kroll (1-5) took the loss after 3.0 innings of relief, allowing only one earned run while striking out one.
Kerry Cook, Maddie Gott, Tonia Wu and Kayla Maloney all went 2-for-4 as the Lions combined for seven doubles on the day.
The Lions will return to action tomorrow, March 16, as they take on Coastal Carolina in a single game at 6 p.m.
