CHARLESTON – The opening weekend for the 2025 season had a late finish as the originally scheduled first pitch was pushed back five hours to 6 p.m. to provide an opportunity for collegiate Sunday Night Baseball. Chicago claimed the win in the game behind a 10-3 final score using an early surge of runs to get the win, avenge their loss from yesterday and give Charleston Southern their first loss of the spring.
 
The Flames were the first to get on the board in the game scoring in the second inning with two outs. David Cox reached on a single to third and moved up to second following a stolen base. Colin Husko drove him home on a single up the middle. During the third, they tallied four to extend their lead to 5-0, getting bases loaded with no outs on the board.
 
Charleston Southern got their offense rolling beginning in the bottom of the third. Blake Edgmon led the inning off with a single and moved to third on a double down the left field line by Kaden Smith. Chandler Tuupo drove each of them home with a single to right field to cut into their deficit.
 
Chicago continued to pour it on during the fifth, scoring on a pair of wild pitches and a third on a bases loaded single to the shortstop.
 
The Bucs' Nathan Martinez provided an RBI double down the right field line to score Aidan McAskie in the 6^th which marked the team's third run of the day. An additional pair of runs were scored by UIC in the 8^th to push the day's final score to 10-3.
 
On the mound, Parks Ledwell earned the starting nod and was tagged with the decision, tossing 3.0 in the outing. Chris Foster came on in relief throwing the 4^th without allowing a Flame to reach base. Brett Gastman was next out, recording 0.2 innings pitched and did not allow a hit. Christian Krause was tagged with the next 1.2 in his CSU debut and did not allow a run to score, allowing just one hit. Hayden Henry had the next 1.2 in his pitching debut and Lee Watson finished the day with the final frame, holding UIC scoreless in it.
 
McAskie led the team in hits with two while Smith, Tuupo, Martinez and Edgmon had one apiece. The team also drew five walks and a hit by pitch with Martinez and Edgmon having two freebies each with AJ Martin and McAskie having one apiece.
 
Late in the game, four players got to make their career debuts for Charleston Southern including Johann Rodriguez, Jack Mausser, Brandon Phillips and Tyler Wright as well as Gavin Bogdanchik making his season debut.
 
Charleston Southern will now begin preparations to square back off with their opponent from the season opener in Miami of Ohio. The game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Nielsen Field @ CSU Ballpark with the game to have live stats available for the contest.