April 11, 2004

Box Score

Mt. Pleasant, SC - College of Charleston, the 20th ranked squad in the nationa, scored seven runs in the eighth to rally past The Citadel 9-7 Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference baseball action at Patriots' Point Field. With the victory, CofC remains in first-place in the SoCon standings with a two-game lead over the Bulldogs.

The Citadel (20-12, 12-3) struck first with a run in the second to take an early 1-0 lead on a RBI-single off the bat of freshman first baseman Zach Brown. After reaching on a one-out double to left, senior designated hitter Andy Phillips raced home on Brown's single to right for the Bulldogs first run of the game. College of Charleston (26-6, 11-1) got two runs in the bottom half of the second to jump ahead 2-1. The Cougars got on the board thanks to a sacrifice fly by Jess Easterling. Easterling's sac-fly plated Brett Anderson, while a throwing error by Citadel catcher Will Coker threw allowed Matt Hallett to trot home from third for the go ahead run.

In the third, the Bulldogs put four runs on the board to take a three-run, 5-2, advantage. After scoring a run on a fielder's choice to tie the score at two, senior Chip Cannon hit a three-run homer to break the tie and plate three runs. With runners on first and third, Cannon ripped a 2-1 breaking ball over the right field fence for his third homer of the series and 13th of the year.

The Cougars scored seven runs on four hits and one error in the eighth inning to take a 9-5 lead heading into the final inning. The big play of inning came on a bases loaded two-run error by Bulldog third baseman Chris Ard. CofC scored the go ahead run on the error and then tacked on three more runs to push their advantage to four runs with one frame to play.

The Bulldogs rallied for two runs in the ninth on a pinch hit two-run single by Blaine Richardson, but Cougar closer Brett Harker struck out sophomore shortstop Matt Matulia with two runners on to end the rally and the game.

Harker (2-1), who took the loss on Friday, earned the win on two innings of work for College of Charleston. He surrendered the two runs in the ninth, but held on to win his second of the year. Citadel closer Shannon Sprouse earned the loss, evening his record at 3-3, as he did not record an out in the eighth. Sprouse gave up five runs, two earned, on two hits and two base on balls.

Cannon, the Bulldog starter, pitched seven innings allowing two runs, one earned. He gave up six hits and one walk, while fanning seven. Cannon also tallied two hits on the day, along with three runs batted in and two runs scored.

The Citadel will stay in the lowcountry as they travel up I-26 to North Charleston to take on Charleston Southern Wednesday, March 14 at 3:00 pm. CofC will make the trek to North Carolina for their next game as they will face Davidson in a three-game SoCon series that begins on Friday, March 16.