Box Score

Charleston, SC - Chris Campbell was 3-5 with three runs batted in, two runs scored and a two-run homer to lead No. 19 College of Charleston to a 9-7 victory over The Citadel Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference action at Riley Park. With the series win, CofC has now won 16 straight SoCon series.

CofC (29-6, 14-1 SoCon) started the game with a run in the first on a RBI-single off the bat of first baseman DJ Wabick. After Cougar right fielder Phillip Coker led off the game with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, Wabick singled to left-center plating Coker from second for a 1-0 lead.

The Citadel (14-21, 6-12 SoCon) plated two runs in the second to jump ahead 2-0 on a RBI-triple by senior second baseman Jon Aughey and a run-scoring groundout to second by junior shortstop Matt Matulia. With freshman first baseman Chris Swauger on first following a leadoff walk, Aughey ripped a 0-2 off the left-centerfield wall for a triple allowing Swauger to race home, which was promptly followed by Matulia's ground ball that allowed Aughey to trot home from third.

The Cougars' Chris Campbell gave CofC a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth on a two-run bomb to left off of Citadel starter Griff Beckham. After battling Beckham to a 3-2 count, Campbell ripped a breaking ball over the left field wall for his eighth homer of the season.

In the Bulldogs half of the fourth, freshman designated hitter Chance Smith chopped a two run single up the middle, while senior catcher Will Coker and senior third baseman Chris Ard plated runs on RBI-singles giving The Citadel a 6-3 lead. Aughey, Matulia, Coker and Smith all scored in the bottom of the fourth to help the Dogs recapture the lead.

CofC responded with two runs in the fifth to cut the Citadel lead to 6-5 on a Chris Campbell run-scoring single and a sac-fly to left off the bat of Jess Easterling. Bulldog reliever Evan Burgess cut the Cougar rally short as he got catcher Matt Kirkpatrick to strike out swinging to end the inning and the rally with runners on the corners.

The Bulldogs got a run back in their half of the fifth thanks to a run-scoring base hit to left field by Coker, his second RBI-single of the game. Swauger, who led off the inning with a double, scored his second run of the game giving the Bulldogs a two-run lead, 7-5.

The Cougars plated three in the seventh to jump ahead 8-7 recapturing the lead for the first time since they led 1-0 after the first inning. The big play of the inning came with the bases loaded as the Bulldogs' Jon Aughey committed only his fifth error allowing two runs to score, while Brett Gardner singled in a run giving CofC a one run lead.

CofC tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth on a Brian Hastings sac fly to right that allowed Anderson to scamper home from third for a 9-7 lead. Anderson, who doubled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sac bunt before scoring on Hastings' fly ball to right field.

The Cougars' Danny Meszaros (2-0) earned the win in relief as he pitched 2.1 innings holding the Bulldogs to one run on two hits, while closer Brett Harker picked up his seventh save of the season, 21st of his career, by pitching a scoreless final three innings. The Citadel's Link Saunders (4-4) took the loss after surrendering an unearned run on only two hits.

The Citadel will remain at home this week as the Bulldogs host Winthrop on Wednesday, April 20 at 6 pm, while CofC returns to Patriots' Point to play Mercer and Coastal Carolina on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.