CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern scored four runs in the first inning and four more in the third to jump on North Carolina Central early in a 9-6 win on Tuesday night at CSU Ballpark. 

The Buccaneers used the lead to boat race the Eagles for their fourth consecutive win in as many days. NCCU (7-6) scored three runs in the ninth to make the game a little closer than it was throughout, but a double play and a diving catch in right center by Chris Singleton kept the Bucs out of real trouble.  

CSU (7-5) had 14 hits and jumped on starter Devin Sweet (L, 1-2) for a pair of two-out hits in the first to break the game open early. Jacob Childress had an RBI single and Cole Murphy yanked a two-out double into the left field corner as the Bucs scored three runs with two outs.  

The clutch hitting set the tone for the game in the mind of CSU head coach Stuart Lake.  

"I told our team I thought we had some big two-out hits in that first inning to let us settle in a bit," Lake said following the win. "They allowed (Kyle) Dyson to really pitch loosely and just keeping getting outs. We've just looked more comfortable offensively (at CSU Ballpark) these last few games." 

Starter Kyle Dyson (W, 1-1) picked up his first win of the season, pitching effectively with the lead. He pitched 6.0 innings, scattering nine hits and striking out two. The Buc defense helped its pitchers, turning three double plays. 

CSU improved to 2-0 at CSU Ballpark behind two impressive, offensive performances. The Bucs followed Sunday's 17-hit effort in the series finale with UMass with 14 more on Tuesday night.  

Sly Edwards was 3-for-4 with an RBI and singled and scored in the first to start the Bucs' rolling. Cole Murphy added a 2-for-3 evening and had a game-high three RBI. Dye, Childress, and catcher Mike Sconzo all had two hits as the worked through seven NCCU pitchers. 

Reliever Eddie Hiott had a strikeout in a scoreless inning of work in the eighth. NCCU scored three off of Dustin Lander in the ninth to make things tight.  

NCCU's Trevor Theissen was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Zachary Marszal added a 2-for-4 night and scored twice.  

CSU will try to extend its winning streak five games on Wednesday night when it hosts USC Upstate at 6 p.m. 

-CSU-