Cougars, Lady Bucs split doubleheader, 2-1 and 8-7

 

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Shannon Howard's two-run homer, her eighth of the season, in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the College of Charleston a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in Game 1 of a softball doubleheader, before Charleston Southern's Brittany Giannini hit her first career gland slam in the seventh inning to seal the 12-7 win in the nightcap.

 

The Cougars (32-22) will host Chattanooga in a Southern Conference series this weekend, while the Lady Bucs (13-42) head to the Big South Tournament in Conway, S.C.

 

Charleston Southern scored its lone run of Game 1 on Tiffany Reid's RBI-single to centerfield to score Jill Shondel in the top of the fifth.

 

Terri Mesko (17-10) scattered four hits, stuck out and allowed one run in the seven innings of work for the win.  Jillian LaFrance (6-14) allowed six hits, yielded two runs and stuck out three for the loss.

 

Jennifer Golden and Howard each had two hits to pace the Cougar offense. Howard had two RBI. 

 

Jennifer Brooks, Ashley Conway, Shondel and Reid each had a hit for Charleston Southern.

 

Charleston Southern took control of Game 2 as the Lady Bucs exploded for four first inning runs and added a run in the second and third innings before Charleston tallied three runs in the bottom of the third to cut the margin, 6-3.

 

The Lady Bucs added pair of runs in the fourth, before the Cougars answered with a pair in the bottom of the fourth as Katie Pesature and Howard both scored to cut the lead, 8-5.

 

Darla Roberson hit her first career double down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth, before Cabrera belted her a two-run homer, her eighth of the season, to left field for the Cougars' final margin, 8-7.

 

Golden, Howard and Izmena Cabrera had two hits apiece.  Cabrera and Amber Shifflett each drove in a pair of runs.

 

Charleston Southern's 15-hit parade was paced by Giannini and Brooks who each had three hits.  Conway, Reid and Jennifer Pardue each had two hits.

 

Whitney James allowed seven hits and yielded four runs for her first win of the season. She walked three and struck out 1 in 4 1/3 innings of work.

 

Katie Sansouci (10-5) yielded six runs on five hits for the loss. She struck out two and walked two.