Box Score CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel's Drew Ellis' RBI double with two outs in the 12th inning propelled the Bulldogs past Charleston Southern on Tuesday night at Joe Riley Park, 4-3.
Ellis yanked a controversial double down the right field line to score Bret Hines with the game-winning run. The double was signaled fair after a slight hesitation by the first base umpire, drawing a protest from the Buccaneers and their coaching staff as the game ended.
The Citadel moves to 12-13 on the season, while CSU falls to 11-14. The two teams meet again on Tuesday at CSU Ballpark.
The Bucs tied the game with a run in the ninth, the only run by either team since the fourth inning in CSU's longest game of the year.
Pitching dominated the game. CSU had 15 strikeouts, while The Citadel had 16.
CSU freshmen Cody Maw and Jacob Childress combined for six scoreless innings and eight strikeouts. Maw worked four scoreless and had six strikeouts, both career highs.
The Citadel's Zach Lavery (W, 2-0) held CSU to a run over the final four innings, striking out five. Starter Philip Watcher didn't factor into the decision, but struck out eight and held the Bucs to two earned runs.
CSU outhit the Bulldogs, 12-10.
Chris Singleton went 2-for-4 an RBI and scoring twice. He hit a solo home run in the fourth to give the Bucs a 2-1 lead at the time.
CSU jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second after a leadoff double and a two-out RBI single from Mike Sconzo. The Bucs had leadoff doubles in their first two at-bats, but could only capitalize on Sconzo's line drive to center.
The Citadel answered back in the bottom half, scoring on a bases-loaded walk by starter Evan Nations. Nations retired the first five batters he faced before a two hits and two walks in the second. He struck out Jason Smith to get out of the jam.
The Bucs tied the game in the ninth on an RBI doubled by Brandon Gragilla. He laced a line drive into the gap in right center to score Ryan Maksim and give the Bucs a chance in extras.
Defense got the Bucs out of the 10th. Edwards raced from his spot in shallow center to the warning track to chase down what would have been the game-winning hit off the bat of William Kinney.
Ellis finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Bulldogs. Austin Mapes added two hits.
CSU opens a Big South series with Longwood on Friday at 6 p.m. at CSU Ballpark.
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