The three-day event runs from Friday through Sunday and includes former Southern Conference rivals Appalachian State and Western Carolina as well as UConn.
The Cougars face App State and UConn on Friday, the Mountaineers and Western Carolina on Saturday and conclude the tournament with another matchup against the Catamounts on Sunday.
Admission will be free on Friday and up to 11:30 on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for entry after that time are $8 for adults and $5 for youths 18 and under.
About the Cougars
Charleston is led at the plate by
Jenna Helberg, who ranks third in the CAA with an average of .464. She is also first in doubles (5), second in on-base percentage (.531) and third in hits (13), RBI (7) and slugging percentage (.857).
Payton Wade is batting .345 and is second in the CAA with four doubles and seventh with 10 hits and six RBI.
Jenna Carter stands at .345 with six runs scored, the eighth-highest figure in the conference.
Carli McCants has been one of the top pitchers in the CAA through the early part of the season. She enters the weekend ranked third with a 1.33 ERA and is also among the leaders with two wins, three complete games, 26.1 innings, 18 strikeouts and a .184 opponent batting average.
McKenna Kelly earned her first career win against Holy Cross during the Charleston Invitational and is fourth in the CAA with a 1.91 ERA, while
Drayton Siegling is ninth at 2.55.
Appalachian State Mountaineers
Record: 5-2
Head Coach: Shelly Hoerner (Hoerner was 254-206 as the head coach at CofC from 2006-13)
Leading Hitters: Emily Parrott (.350, 9 RBI, 3-3 SB); Mary Pierce Barnes (.350, 7 RBI); Addie Wray (.350)
Leader Pitchers: Taylor Nichols (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 K); Kaylie Northrop (1-2, 1.43 ERA, 13 K);
Delani Buckner (2-0, 16 K)
Series vs. Cougars: Cougars lead, 36-13 (21-4 at home); Charleston won the last meeting, 1-0, on Feb. 22, 2020
UConn Huskies
Record: 3-6
Head Coach: Lauren Valentino
Leading Hitters: Brianna Marcelino (.423, 5 RS, 9-9 SB); Reese Guevarra (.364)
Leader Pitchers: Delaney Nagy (0-0, 4.20 ERA, 8 K); Meghan O'Neil (1-2, 20 K)
Series vs. Cougars: Cougars lead, 2-0; Charleston won the last meeting, 3-2, on March 17, 2016
Western Carolina Catamounts
Record: 8-4
Head Coach: Jim Clift
Leading Hitters: Riley Lambert (.278), Natalie Henry (.263, 2 HR, 4 RBI); Samantha Reele (2 2B, 2 HR)
Leader Pitchers: Savannah Rice (3-0, 1.47 ERA, 32 K); Jayme Eilers (4-3, 1.49 ERA, 53 K)
Series vs. Cougars: Cougars lead, 18-12 (11-4 at home); Charleston swept a DH, 8-0 and 8-7, on March 18, 2017 in the last meeting
