COLUMBIA, S.C. - A late rally wasn't enough to overcome an early deficit as the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (5-12) fell to the two-time defending national champions of South Carolina (14-1) by a score of 5-2 on Tuesday evening at Carolina Stadium in Columbia.

"This team was playing very hard," said head coach Stuart Lake, who was an assistant on Ray Tanner's staff from 1999-2002. "Kevin Buran gave us a good start. We've got to make some of those plays to give us a chance. On Corey Deighan's double play, you've got to make that - especially against these guys because those runs are hard to get."

Charleston Southern was led offensively by Alex Tomasovich and Chase Shelton, who each went 2-for-4 with a run. Walt Quattlebaum and Jaren Sustar each recorded an RBI; Sustar was also credited with a stolen base.

Kevin Buran (0-2) got the start for the Bucs, going 5.1 innings with three runs off nine hits and three strikeouts. He was relieved by Corey Deighan, who gave up two runs, one earned, off of one hit. Zach Hagaman and Ryan Gunther then combined to pitch 1.2 scoreless innings to close out the game as the Bucs surrendered 11 hits to the Gamecocks.

South Carolina used six total pitchers on the evening, with Adam Westmoreland (1-0) earning the win. Westmoreland threw 5.2 innings, giving up one run off of four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Forest Koumas also pitched 2.1 innings, striking out four batters as the Bucs collected eight hits off of the USC pitching staff.

Tanner English went 3-for-4 for a run for the Gamecocks, while Erik Payne and LB Danzler each had two hits and an RBI. Grayson Geiner, who entered the game to pinch hit, recorded two RBI on the day.

Bobby Ison had a base hit in the first at-bat of the game, but couldn't make it past first. The Gamecocks' leadoff hitter also got on as Evan Marzilli doubled to left field. He was driven home by Kyle Martin to put South Carolina up 1-0 in the bottom of the first.

Christian Walker doubled in the bottom of the third and was drive home on a single by Danzler to put the Gamecocks up 2-0. Dantzler then crossed home plate on an Erik Payne triple as USC took a 3-0 lead after three innings of play.

The Bucs made it on the board in the top of the sixth when Tomasovich scored on a single by Sustar. Shelton followed that with a single to right field, putting Sustar in scoring position. However, Nolan Belcher struck out Brian Welch to end the inning with the Bucs down 3-1.

Deighan replaced Buran in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases in the top of the seventh. He was replaced by Hagaman, who gave up a single to Grayson Greiner that scored Adam Matthews and English as South Carolina padded its lead at 5-1.

CSU added another run in the bottom of the ninth as Shelton, who doubled to put himself in scoring position was brought home on a double by Quatttlebaum to put the final score at 5-2.

The Buccaneers will head south to Savannah, Ga., for a Wednesday evening match up at Savannah State. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Tiger Field.