WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The University of Charleston Softball team (2-0) downed the Winston-Salem State Rams (0-7) in their opening series on Friday. Sophomore Haleigh Christopher hit her 16th career homerun on their way to victory over the Rams. 
 
THE BASICS
SCORE GAME 1 –Charleston 8; WSSU 4
SCORE GAME  –Charleston 2; WSSU 0
LOCATION – Winston Salem, N.C.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The Golden Eagles opened up the scoring when Karli Pinkerton score on an error by the Winston-Salem first baseman. With Emily Dutton in scoring position Danielle Norton singled to left center to send the runner home giving UC the 2-0 lead in the top of the first. 

In the top of the second at the top of the order AJ Martin singled the left field to send Karli Pinkerton in for the 3-0 lead. With two runners on base Tiarra Delaney hit a homerun for the Rams to bring two runners in an tighten the score. The bats went quiet for both teams until the bottom of the fourth when Anna Marino hit a SAC fly for the Rams to bring Nyla Howard in for the tying run. 

In the top of the fifth inning Haleigh Christopher hit a two-run homer to bring the score to 5-3 in favor of the Golden Eagles. Harrington smacked a double to left center to bring in Janie Schmidt for her first score of her collegiate career. In the top of the seventh inning Ansley Warner reached on fielders choice allowing Kendall Marshall to score for the Golden Eagles giving them the 7-3 lead. Karli Pinkerton tripled to bring warner home on the next at bat for the final run for Charleston. 

Dajiah Chambers singled to left field to bring in WSSU final runner of the game. Charleston went on to win game one of the season 8-4.

Game 2
The Golden Eagles downed the WSSU Rams in game two of the day with a SAC fly by Haleigh Christopher to bring Karli Pinkerton home in the top of the first. 

Neither team could get an offense going for the next six innings, but in the top of the seventh Ansley Warner hit a SAC fly to center field allowing Marshall to score the Golden Eagles second run of the game. The Golden Eagles would take game two 2-0 improving to 2-0 on the season. 


STAT CHECK
Sophomore Haleigh Chirstopher continues to command home plate with her 16th homerun and three RBIs for the day while Carli Lucas notched 12 strikeouts for the Golden Eagles. That is the most strikeouts in a game since Alli Burdette notched 12 against UVA-Wise in 2017. 

UP NEXT
-The Golden Eagles will head to Hartsville, South Carolina for the Coker College Spring Tournament. They are set to face King College at 12:30 p.m on Saturday followed by West Virginia Tech