COLUMBIA, S.C. – Charleston Southern baseball found success in the early frames, but ultimately fell to No. 6 South Carolina, 10-4, in a midweek affair at Founders Park.
 
Charleston Southern (17-19) opened the scoring summary in the first frame as Nico Regino singled on the first pitch of the game to set the stage for a Casey Asman double off the wall that was enough to score him.
 
South Carolina (31-6) answered in the home half of the first frame, though, plating three runs. A bases loaded walk allowed the first run to cross before a Talmadge LeCroy single into left plated two and put the Gamecocks up 3-1. 
 
The Bucs would make noise of their own in the second with a big response as the lineup turned back over to the top. Regino stayed hot with a two-out double to left to score Sam Low and Jaylin Rae followed that with a single to right, scoring Nicholas Fazzari while also returning the favor to Regino while Charleston Southern retook the lead 4-3.
 
South Carolina again found an answer in the second, as a two-out double was enough to tie the contest back up at four, apiece.
 
The middle frames were played scoreless, as both pitching staffs were able to settle in and hold each other at bay until the sixth inning. South Carolina would then rely on the longball to create the separation needed to take control of the midweek affair.
 
Dylan Brewer was the first to lay claim to a longball in the sixth as his two-run shot put the Gamecocks up 6-4 while Gavin Casas matched the two-run home run with one of his own the following inning, doubling the South Carolina advantage. The eighth inning held two more runs for the nation's No. 6 team, as that would be all they needed to shut the door.
 
Eddie Olsen (L, 2-2) was charged with the loss after surrendering the two home runs in the sixth and seventh frames as his line read four earned across two innings. Devin MacWatters got the start for Charleston Southern and went four complete, settling in nicely after four earned in the first two innings. Dylan Matsuoka was called on for the final six outs, as he was not charged with an earned run, giving up just one hit.
 
Nick Proctor (W, 3-0) collects the win for South Carolina after coming on to finish the sixth inning and working through 2.2 innings, not giving up a single baserunner in that body of work. Eli Jerzembeck got the no decision after giving way at the completion of the second inning, his line read four earned on six hits and a walk.
 
UP NEXT
Charleston Southern returns home as they flip back over to the Big South portion of the campaign, playing host to Longwood at Nielsen Field. The three-game set features a 5:00 p.m. start Friday, April 21 while Saturday sees a 1:30 p.m. first pitch and Sunday's finale matches Saturday's 1:30 p.m. start time.