CHARLESTON – Charleston Southern split a Saturday doubleheader with Villanova at Nielsen Field, falling 5-0 in the opener before erupting for a 22-4 victory in game two. The Buccaneers' 22 runs marked the fourth-most in program history and the most scored in a game since 2002 as they moved to 13-6 on the season.

GAME ONE

The first game of the afternoon remained scoreless through two innings before Villanova broke through in the third inning.

Mark Giallus opened the frame with a single before Jack Roventi and JoJo Montgomery were each hit by pitches to load the bases. Austin Lemon brought home the game's first run with an RBI fielder's choice, scoring Mark Giallus. Brayden Leonard followed with an RBI double down the left-field line that scored Roventi before Collin Quint added a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Lemon and pushed the Wildcats ahead 3-0.

Villanova added another run in the fourth inning when Giallus was hit by a pitch, advanced on a bunt single by Jack Roventini and a sacrifice bunt by Montgomery, and later scored on a groundout from Lemon to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Wildcats tacked on their final run in the ninth inning as Brayden Leonard singled and later scored on a run-scoring double from Michael Whooley to make it 5-0.

At the plate, Charleston Southern finished with five hits, led by Caden Wolfley, who went 3-for-4. Mason Reising and Nathan Martinez also recorded hits for the Buccaneers, who stranded nine runners on base.

On the mound, Brady Bickett made the start and was charged with the loss after tossing 3.0 innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Christian Krause delivered a strong relief outing, throwing 4.0 innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three. Corbin Payne followed with a scoreless inning before Tristan Stephenson worked the ninth.

GAME TWO

Charleston Southern quickly returned to their winning ways in the nightcap, delivering an offensive explosion in a 22-4 victory to earn the split.

The Buccaneers wasted no time getting on the board, erupting for six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Tyler Wright scored the first run after being hit by a pitch and later coming home on a walk by Mason Reising. Chandler Tuupo and Alex Marot both scored on a Villanova fielding error by the shortstop before Blake Edgmon drove in two runs with a single to center field, scoring Nathan Martinez and Ethan Reader. Wright later drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Kain Collins, capping the six-run inning.

Charleston Southern added another run in the second inning when Marot scored on an RBI single from Reader to make it 7-0.

In the third inning, Wright launched a solo home run to left field before Martinez added an RBI single later in the frame to score Marot and extend the lead to 9-0.

The Buccaneers continued to pour it on in the fourth inning. John Emendorfer highlighted the inning with a three-run home run to left field that scored Wright and Wolfley. Later in the frame, Barile scored on a passed ball to stretch the lead to 13-0.

Villanova briefly cut into the deficit in the fifth inning with solo home runs from Collin Quint and Tim Schuler, but the Buccaneers responded immediately in the bottom half. Emendorfer delivered an RBI double that scored Wolfley before Garrison Barile followed with a two-run single to plate Emendorfer and Wright. Reader later scored on a wild pitch to push the advantage to 17-2.

Charleston Southern put the game well out of reach with five more runs in the sixth inning. Gabe Gutter scored on a Barile RBI single before Reader reached on an error that allowed Barile to score. Collins then delivered the big blow with a three-run double to right field, bringing home Nathan Martinez, Ethan Reader, and Mason Reising to make it 22-4.

At the plate, Charleston Southern totaled 15 hits while drawing 13 walks. Wright scored four runs and drove in two, while Emendorfer finished with two hits and four RBI. Barile added two hits and three RBI, Collins drove in three, and Reising collected two hits with an RBI.

On the mound, Matt Gallant earned the win after throwing 5.1 innings while allowing two runs on four hits and striking out four. Kayden Althoff, Hayden Henry, and Bryson Huwar combined to close out the final innings.

UP NEXT
 
Charleston Southern returns to action this Tuesday for a midweek game against North Florida at Nielsen Field. The game will be available live on ESPN+ with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
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