CHARLESTON, S.C. – Andrew Tomasovich struck out a career-high 13 batters to carry Charleston Southern to a 4-0 shutout of visiting LaSalle in the series opener on Friday afternoon at CSU Ballpark.

With the win, CSU remained perfect at 4-0 on the year, while LaSalle falls to 2-2 overall. 

Tomasovich (WP, 2-0) shook off the near-freezing temperatures to allow just four hits and only one walk. He was three strikeouts shy of the CSU single-game mark (16) when he left after the seventh. The junior has yet to allow an earned run this season in 13 innings. Even CSU head coach Stuart Lake, who is off to his best start at CSU, was impressed by the Bucs' ace. 

"You're kind of of starting to expect this from (Tomasovich)," Lake said of his junior lefty. "This is a really good hitting team, but he came out and was in complete control and got us the start to the weekend we wanted."

Tomasovich looked loose and comfortable on a day where much of the country – and Lowcountry - seemed too cold for baseball.

"We dealt with (the cold) in practice all week, so it wasn't any different," Tomasovich said. "I had a good feel for my pitches, me and (Sam) Remick got on the same page, and just went from there. "

A fast start helped the Bucs seize control early and let Tomasovich pound the strike zone. 

CSU scored an unearned run in the first and picked up two more with two outs in the third to build a lead LaSalle couldn't threaten.

"(The fast start) was so important to us," Lake said. "We started slow last weekend and LaSalle jumped all over Stetson (last week), to come out and execute really let Andrew do the rest."

The Bucs took a 1-0 lead in their opening at-bat as LaSalle shortstop Michael Flax mishandled a Chase Hannifin pop up. The Bucs' left fielder would steal second with two outs and score on an Andrew Widell single to make it 1-0. 

CSU added two runs in the third as Shelton drove home Nate Blanchard, who doubled to leadoff the inning. Widell and Cole Murphy followed with back-to-back doubles to push the lead to 3-0.

The Bucs scored the game's final run in the fourth when Brandon Burris reached on an infield single and raced home on a wild pitch. 

Widell led the CSU attack going 3-for-4 with an RBI and scoring a run. Burris added two hits.

RHP Jared Mattera (LP, 0-1) gave up two earned runs in three innings of work, taking the loss. 

Evan Raynor pitched the last two innings for the Bucs.

The Bucs and Explorers face off again on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at CSU Ballpark.

-CSU