CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston Southern Buccaneers return to action this weekend for a three-game series with crosstown-rival The Citadel.

NOTE: Friday's single game at Riley Park has been changed from a 6 p.m. first pitch to a 4 p.m. first pitch., while Saturday's game at the CSU Ballpark has been moved up to 11:30 a.m.

The Bucs and Bulldogs close out the weekend with a single game on Sunday scheduled for 1 p.m. at Riley Park.

Weekend Information

Charleston Southern (8-14) vs. The Citadel (14-9)

Friday
At Riley Park, 4 p.m. -

The Citadel Live Stats
RHP Ryan Gunther, CSU (2-2, 5.16 ERA) vs. RHP Austin Pritcher (3-1, 1.74 ERA)

Saturday
At CSU Ballpark, 11:30 a.m. -

CSU Live Stats
RHP Kevin Buran, CSU (0-5, 4.13 ERA) vs. LHP James Reeves, CIT (1-1, 4.79 ERA)

Sunday
At Riley Park, 1 p.m. -

The Citadel Live Stats
LHP Tory Schroff, CSU (3-1, 2.60 ERA) and RHP Austin Mason, CIT (2-1, 5.93 ERA)

Charleston Southern (8-14) will try to put an end to a six-game losing streak and grab their first road win on the season on Friday night. To do so, the Bucs' offense will need to come alive. CSU is averaging just 2.3 runs per game through its last six games.

Bucs' third baseman Jaren Sustar leads the team with a .320 average, while centerfielder Bobby Ison is batting .314 with a team-high 27 hits.

CSU is also facing a hot Bulldogs team. The Citadel is 9-4 in its last 13 games, with one loss coming against No. 5 South Carolina. Bo Thompson leads the Bulldogs with a .406 average and was named SoCon player of the Week last week.

The series is the Bucs' final non-conference series before seven-straight Big South series to close out the regular season. Last weekend, CSU was swept at Liberty, the preseason Big South favorite in the North Division. The Bucs had the tying run at the plate twice on Saturday, in its 8-4 loss, and saw a 1-0 lead slip away in the seventh in Sunday's 3-1 defeat. The Bucs were also "right there" last week in a 3-1 loss at Clemson in which CSU outhit the Tigers, but never came through with the "big hit."

The Bucs will lean on senior right-handers Ryan Gunther and Kevin Buran for quality starts in what will be chilly conditions this weekend. Buran has allowed two earned runs in four of his five starts this season, but has not had the benefit of much run support early. The Bucs have scored just 12 first-inning runs, six of which came in CSU's 8-6 win over The Citadel in February.

-CSU-