CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern will turn its focus back to the Big South side of things as it plays host to Gardner-Webb in a three-game conference set on at home. The action starts Friday, April 22 with a 5:00 p.m. first pitch followed by a 2:00 p.m. start Saturday, April 23 and a 1:00 p.m. first pitch Sunday, April 24.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday, April 22
Charleston Southern (14-23, 6-9 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (13-25, 4-8 Big South)
5:00 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Nielsen Field at CSU Ballpark * Live Stats * Watch
Projected Starters: CSU RHP Krishna Raj (2-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. Gardner-Webb RHP Joe Simeone (5-4, 3.88 ERA)
 
Saturday, April 23
Charleston Southern vs. Gardner-Webb
2:00 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Nielsen Field at CSU Ballpark * Live Stats * Watch
Projected Starters: CSU RHP Daniel Padysak (1-2, 4.94 ERA) vs. Gardner-Webb LHP Tyler Switalski (1-4, 4.04 ERA)
 
Sunday, April 24
Charleston Southern vs. Gardner-Webb
1:00 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * Nielsen Field at CSU Ballpark * Live Stats
Projected Starters: CSU TBD vs. Gardner-Webb TBD
 
LOOKIN' BACK
Charleston Southern's campaign in the early going has been highlight by a set of runs, dropping its first four before running off eight-straight to turn the tide. After the conclusion of the win-streak, the Bucs have dropped their last seven contests.
 
The slate started with an Opening Weekend affair at 5^th-ranked Ole Miss, where the Rebels took all three tilts in Oxford. CSU then played host to The Citadel in a mid-week contest, where the Bulldogs used two grand slams to best the Bucs.
 
The Buccaneers turned the tide after dropping the first four, completing a four-game sweep of Delaware State, evening the season series with The Citadel and besting Villanova in another mid-week affair before hosting Southern Conference member Samford at Nielsen Field. CSU took the first two contests of a three-game set to clinch the series before dropping the finale.
 
Kansas then came to the Lowcountry for a two-game set and used a strong offensive output to claim both wins before Canisius was next on the ledger for Charleston Southern. The Golden Griffins come to Nielsen Field and left with all three tilts in a series where CSU struggled on the mound throughout the weekend. Saint Mary's was the latest of Charleston Southern's opponents, coming Nielsen Field and leaving with a 9-5 victory.
 
Charleston Southern was able to open the Big South slate with some noise, taking two of three from Radford at home to open the Big South slate. Radford took the opener before the CSU offense exploded for 13 runs in game two to even the series. The rubber match went extras as the Buccaneers scored four runs in the eighth before a Dylan Stewart infield single scored Ajay Sczepkowski in the tenth to walk it off.
 
Mercer stood as the next task for the Bucs in a midweek affair, as the Bears used a strong effort in the closing innings to outlast CSU 10-2 before a Big South trip to UNC Asheville spelled three loses. Charleston Southern held the lead in the eighth inning or later in two of the three contests with the Bulldogs, but each time UNC Asheville was able to answer the call with clutch at-bats in the eighth frame.
 
After an affair with Atlantic Coast Conference member Georgia Tech, Charleston Southern was able to bounce back in a big way. A three-game sweep of North Carolina A&T at Nielsen Field has the CSU lineup clicking on all cylinders as we have reached the heart of the Big South season. It was a masterpiece of a weekend all around for the Bucs, as the rotation looked as strong as they have all year to add to an offensive-minded lineup and an effective bullpen.
 
Charleston Southern was then tasked with making the most of an Energy Sunday at Winthrop after dropping the first two of the weekender. The late game heroics of Nicholas Fazzari and Ajay Sczepkowski were fueled seven runs in the final two frames to come away with the 14-11 win and avoid the sweep on the road.
 
USC Upstate was able to take all three of the next weekend set before a midweek contest against Lowcountry rival The Citadel went the way of the Bulldogs at The Joe 
 
SCOUTING THE RUNNIN' BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb comes into the weekender with a 13-25 overall record, 4-8 in the Big South after taking two of three from Winthrop at home a weekend ago. The Runnin' Bulldogs have dropped two-straight contests, including a midweek contest at home with USC Upstate this past Wednesday in a non-conference affair.
 
Series wins include a four-game sweep over Brown and most recently two out of three at home against Winthrop.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The two sides have met a total of 49 times, with Gardner-Webb laying claim to 23 of those with the inclusion of the three-game set a season ago. The Bucs sport the last meeting, but Gardner-Webb had already taken the first two with the opener going 11 frames.
 
UP NEXT
Charleston Southern will stay in the Holy City for its next affair after the Gardner-Webb series, playing host to The Citadel. The midweek affair is slated for a 6:00 first pitch Tuesday, May 3 and serves as the fourth and final meeting between the two clubs on the year.