TROUTVILLE, Va. – Charleston rallied for two runs in the fifth inning to open the MEC Softball Championship with a 3-2 win over Notre Dame College at the Botetourt Complex Friday afternoon.
 
Katelyn Hamilton and Laura Ashlock paced UC from the plate, each accounting for two hits and one RBI.  Kelly Browning added the other RBI for the Golden Eagles.  Alli Burdette picked up her 26^th win of the season, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three Falcons.
 
Notre Dame opened the scoring in the first, but the Golden Eagles responded on Browning's RBI double that scored Hamilton to even the game at 1-1.  Notre Dame took the lead in the third and carried a 2-1 advantage to the 5^th inning before the Golden Eagle bats came alive.
 
Rachelle Toppings started the rally with a one-out double to right center, followed by a Hamilton double to left center that scored Toppings to make it a 2-2 game. Ashlock then singled to drive in Hamilton from second to put Charleston ahead 3-2.  Burdette closed out the Falcons over the next two innings, allowing just one Falcon on base as Charleston survived the opening round game to face Concord at 5:00 p.m.