CHARLESTON – Charleston Southern claimed the series sweep over Presbyterian on Saturday by a final score of 15-11, using a four-spot in the eighth to take the lead for the final time. The victory moves the Bucs to 5-4 in Big South play and 20-10 on the season.
Presbyterian took the lead in the top of the first using a pair of home runs to go to a 3-0 lead. In the second,
Alex Marot had a solo homer and a
Blake Edgmon RBI single cut the CSU deficit down to 3-2.
The Blue Hose tallied another homer, this one for three runs in the third, to go ahead 6-2. In the third, Marot had a sacrifice fly to score
Chandler Tuupo, but PC had another solo homer in the fourth to go back ahead by four at 7-3.
In the bottom of the fourth, Charleston Southern scored one off a failed pickoff attempt and another on a double by
Kain Collins. PC tallied another of their own in the fifth with a bases loaded hit by pitch.
After this, Charleston Southern tallied six unanswered runs to take their first lead of the game. In the sixth
Tyler Wright started it with a two-run home run. This was followed by a
Lucas Pringle two RBI double and capped off with a
Nathan Martinez single that brought Pringle home. In the seventh, Tuupo got on base courtesy of an error in the outfield allowing Edgmon to score from third and put them up 11-8.
The Blue Hose fought back immediately recording a sacrifice fly and then Matthew Rollison getting his third home run of the day in the top of the eighth. This one scored a pair of runs to tie the game at 11 apiece.
Charleston Southern responded one last time in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim the lead. Gavin Spiers had an RBI single for the go-ahead run. Collins then had a two RBI double followed by
Caden Wolfley getting an RBI single to place the score at 15-11. In the top of the ninth, Presbyterian was able to get the bases loaded with one out. The Bucs then inserted
Drew Dawson into the game and retired each of the two batters he faced and picked up the save.
At the plate, the Buccaneers finished with 17 hits, their second-most in a game this season. Pringle and Edgmon each had three while Collins, Wright and Martinez had two apiece. Additionally, they drew eight walks with Edgmon, Martinez and
Mason Reising each getting two. Collins led the team in RBIs with three while Pringle, Wright and Marot had two apiece.
On the mound,
Matt Gallant started and struck out five batters while throwing the first three innings, allowing seven runs.
Hayden Henry was the next out and struck out four batters, seeing one run score.
Christian Krause worked the next 2.2 seeing three runs cross home.
Zach Stichweh earned the win throwing a scoreless inning without allowing a hit and striking out two batters with
Drew Dawson getting the final 0.2 frames.
Charleston Southern will be back in action on Tuesday evening to face The Citadel. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch with the game to be available live on ESPN+.
