CHARLESTON S.C. – Hayden Harris' two-run double in the home-half of the sixth was the lone bright spot for Charleston Southern, as The Citadel used four home runs en route to a 16-3 win in the first of four Lowcountry clashes between the two sides. The contest marked the home opener for Charleston Southern at Nielson Field.
 
Charleston Southern (0-4) scored all three of its runs in the sixth frame, as Harris' double to right center scored Connor Carter and Peyton Basler. Austen Izzio brought Harris around to score in the same frame, finding the six-hole with two outs to pick up a run batted in.
 
The Citadel (4-0) took control of the contest in the opening frame, as Cole Simpson took a fastball out to right for a three-run shot. Travis Lott would cap the inning with an RBI-single through the left side.
 
The Bulldogs would add a solo shot off the bat of Ben Hutchins in the third to push it to 5-0 before an offensive explosion in the fifth frame. Lott would leave the yard for a grand slam after three walks pushed it to 9-0 and Simpson found his second home run of the contest in the same frame, marking the second grand slam in the inning. 
 
Dylan Costa tripled to center to scratch across two more in the sixth for the visitors before Tilo Skole capped the Bulldog scoring with a single through the left side to bring Costa around to score.
 
The Citadel starter Devin Beckley (1-0) gets credited with the win after working through four scoreless innings, tallying eight strikeouts while chasing just one hit and sone walk.
 
Corey Braun (0-1) took the loss for Charleston Southern, as the southpaw worked through just one inning. He was charged with four earned after four hits and two walks.
 
Charleston Southern used nine pitchers in the contest, with Matthew Taylor having the longest outing on the staff working through two complete and being charged with one earned.

IN THE BOX
"The Citadel flat out beat us. They were tougher and better than us in all phases," said Head Coach Marc MacMillan. "After Ole Miss, I felt we would learn from the experience and play BUCSball in front of a terrific crowd at Nielsen Field. I take full responsibility for our play over the past five days. We get two days to work on getting back to being us before Delaware State comes in here for a four-game series."
 
UP NEXT
Head Coach Marc MacMillan's side will be back in action Friday, February 25 for the first installment of a four-game set with Delaware State at Nielson Field. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. in game one, as Saturday's twinbill action starts at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday's action kicks off at 1:00 p.m. as well.