MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston softball team fell to Oakland, 8-4, and Princeton, 9-7, on the opening day of the Cougar Classic.

Malaka Belser walked with the bases loaded in the third inning against the Golden Grizzlies to put Charleston on the board first.

The Cougars took advantage of a three-run inning in the fifth highlighted by Shealyn Starks' RBI single and Halle Cannon's first career triple to take a 4-0 lead.

The Grizzlies responded with five hits and five runs in the sixth inning including a solo home run.

CofC could not regain the lead with only one hit across the final two innings and Oakland's three-RBI double in the seventh that secured the Grizzlies' win.

Belser tallied three RBI in the loss to Princeton, including a double in the bottom of the sixth that cut the Cougar deficit to one.

The Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the first, but the Tigers hit grand slams in back-to-back innings to gain an 8-3 lead in the third.

CofC tried to rally in the fourth with three runs and two hits started by Brooke Marquez' RBI single with the bases loaded.

The Cougars were unable to complete the comeback despite a season-high eight walks and nine runners left on base.

Charleston will face Oakland and SC State on Sunday for day two of the Cougar Classic. Game times are set for 2:30 and 5:00 p.m.