CHARLESTON, S.C. – For the first time this season, Charleston Southern could not finish a wild rally. The Buccaneers scored six runs in the eighth inning to cut into an eight-run deficit, but could not roar all the way back in a 13-11 loss to visiting LaSalle on Saturday night at CSU Ballpark. 

The loss is the first of the season for the Bucs, now 4-1. LaSalle moves to 3-3 on the year. The two square off in a series finale on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

CSU fell behind 8-0 early and spent the final six innings chipping away at the deficit, just like it did in rallying from 5-0 and 6-0 in a sweep of Chicago State last weekend. 

The Bucs cut the margin to 8-5 after a two-run triple by Brandon Burris in the sixth, but the Explorers, who had 18 hits, tacked on five runs in their next two at-bats to push the lead to 13-5. 

CSU batted around with two outs in the eighth to give itself a chance. Cole Murphy, Nate Blanchard, and Jack Crittenberger all had RBI doubles and Chase Shelton smashed a two-run home run deep into the night to shave the lead to 13-11. 

The inning – and the game – was fueled by errors on both sides. The Explorers made two in the eighth and five in the game, but CSU had three, including allowing three unearned runs behind starter Dylan Lee (LP, 0-1) in the early innings. 

LaSalle starter Joey Ravert set the table for the fast start, working five innings, scattering four hits and two unearned runs. 

Cameron Johnson and Justin Korenblatt each had four hits and four RBI. Korenblatt scored three times.

Eight Bucs hit safely in the game. Andrew Widell was 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Burris added a 2-for-4 day with a run scored and two RBI. Sly Edwards scored twice after entering the game late.

-CSU-