BUIES CREEK, NC— The season came to an end for Winthrop softball Friday evening as it fell 9-1 to fifth-seeded Charleston Southern in an elimination game at the Big South Conference Championship.

The Eagles finish the season 26-25 overall as they get winning records in back-to-back seasons since 2008-09. Charleston Southern improves to 31-27 overall and advances to the final four of the conference tournament.

Winthrop got in trouble early with four walks and an error on a routine grounder to short as it fell behind 4-0 after two innings. The top of the first saw Charleston Southern load the bases with one out with a 1-0 lead but Dallas King worked her way out of the jam to keep it a one-run game. In the top of the second King walked the leadoff batter and then the next batter hit a grounder to Maddie Antone at short but as she tried to field the ball and make a play for an out she bobbled the ball and both runners were safe. Two batters later Marci Christian belted a three-run home run to left on a 3-2 count to go ahead 4-0.

The lead extended to 6-0 in the third inning when Matsumoto drew a bases loaded walk and Christian singled to left with the bases loaded. The Buccaneers added three more runs in the third, two of which came on wild pitches.

Charleston Southern's Jennifer Giles had a perfect game heading into the fifth, but senior Kelsey Ritter spoiled the no-hit bid and shutout with one swing as she belted her 10^th home run of the season over the left field fence. Ritter is just the fifth player in the program's history to hit 10 or more home runs in a single-season.

It was the only base runner allowed by Giles, who struck out three in five innings as she improved to 15-16 on the year.

Eagle pitching had a tough night as three pitchers combined to allow the nine runs on six hits with nine walks.

Winthrop advanced to Friday night's contest against the Bucs by defeating Campbell 3-2 earlier in the day on a walk-off walk by Ritter. Head coach Mark Cooke became the Big South's all-time leader in conference tournament wins with 49.

The Eagles trailed Campbell 2-0 but cut the deficit in half in the third inning when Antone was hit with the bases loaded and then the Eagles tied the game in the fifth on an Antone ground out with the bases loaded.

Senior Sutton Watson earned her 10^th win of the season as she tossed a complete game allowing one earned run on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts.