CHARLESTON – Charleston Southern extended their historic start to the season on Saturday evening, defeating Bellarmine by a 12-8 score. The victory moves them to 8-1 on the year, adding an extra win to the best beginning to a spring in school history.
 
The Buccaneers jumped on the Knights early, tallying six runs in the first inning. The first five batters each had a hit with Kain Collins leading off with a single and Kaden Smith knocking a single down the left field line. Chandler Tuupo knocked the first run in off a single to center field that scored Collins. AJ Martin and Aidan McAskie added RBI singles themselves. Nathan Martinez took a walk to reload the bases. Gavin Bogdanchik had a two RBI double, and Blake Edgmon had an RBI groundout to tally the sixth of the frame.
 
Bellarmine responded with a four-spot in the top of the second that pulled them within two, now trailing 6-4.
 
Charleston Southern continued their hot start to the game, scoring four of their own in the bottom half of the inning, extending their lead to 10-4. Tuupo led the inning off with a double and after a McAskie walk, Tuupo was brought home off a Martinez single. Lucas Pringle drove McAskie and Martinez home off a double to right field. Edgmon scored the final one of the frame off a single.
 
The Knights were able to cut back into the lead during the fifth and sixth innings, tallying a pair of runs in each, cutting their deficit to 10-8.
 
The Bucs tallied their 11^th and 12^th runs of the night during the 6^th and 8^th with the second being off a McAskie sacrifice fly to drive Tuupo home.
 
Tuupo led the team in hits with three which marked a season-high for the team's first baseman. Collins also had multiple hits with two. Tuupo reached base four times and was brought home each time to lead the team. There were four Bucs that tied for the team-lead in RBIs with the list including McAskie, Pringle, Bogdanchik and Edgmon each having two.
 
Joel Rodriguez had the start and threw the first two innings, before Camden Chalfant came on in relief of him. He threw the next 3.0 and picked up the victory. Chris Foster tossed the next 0.2 and had one unearned run score on him while Kyle Lewis stepped in to pitch the final 3.1 innings and got the save. He allowed just one hit and one walk during his time on the mound and did not let a Knight score, fanning four batters in the process.
 
Charleston Southern will look to make it back-to-back weekend sweeps as they close out the series tomorrow afternoon with Bellarmine. The Buccaneers and Knights have the finale scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Nielsen Field @ CSU Ballpark on Sunday, March 2.