May 27, 2005

Box Score

Charleston, SC - The top-seeded College of Charleston pounded out six runs in the top of the second and held on to defeat the sixth-seeded The Citadel 9-7 to move into the finals of the losers' bracket in the 2005 Southern Conference Baseball Championships Friday night at Riley Park.

The Citadel had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth but only managed to move one runner across as Brett Harker picked up his school record 14th save of the season.

Four hitters recorded multiple hits, highlighted by Byron Barber and Chris Campbell who recorded three RBI a-piece. The College of Charleston wasted no time getting on the board, plating one runner and taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Brett Gardner led the inning off with a single and moved to second on a stolen base. Two batters later, Bryon Barber scored Gardner with a double to center field.

The Citadel answered in the bottom of the first putting one runner across to knot the game up at 1-1. With two away, Josh Stackley singled to right field and scored on an RBI triple by Jon Aughey.

The Cougars scored six runs on six hits to grab a 7-1 lead in the top of the second. Matt Kirkpatrick got things going with a lead off single before Oliver Marmal was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Gardner brought in Kirkpatrick with a single up the middle and Coker plated Marmal with a single through the left side. Barber added a double to bring home Gardner, while a single by Chris Campbell scored Coker and Barber. Michael Harrington then moved Campbell to third on a single to center field. Campbell came home and Harrington moved to second on a balk by Bulldog pitcher Evan Burgess.

The Citadel moved four runners across in the fourth to cut the lead to 7-5. Chris Swauger led off the inning with a single and scored when Matt Matulia knocked a two RBI home run over the right field wall. Two batters later, Will Coker singled to right center and moved to third on a double by Trent Weathers. Chris Ard scored Coker and Weathers on a double down the left field line.

The College of Charleston extended its lead to four in the top of the sixth, 9-5, bringing home two runners. Marmol led the inning off by reaching on a third strike wild pitch. Gardner moved Marmol to third by reaching on an error and Coker singled to load the bases. Barber plated Marmol with a ground out, followed by a Campbell sacrifice fly to score Gardner.

The Citadel scored one run in the bottom of the seventh to move the score to 9-6. Stackley singled and moved to third on a double by Aughey. Stackley scored on a single by Swauger.

Josh McLaughlin picked up the win for the Cougars improving to 3-2 on the season, while Tim Martin took the loss for The Citadel, falling to 0-1 for the season.

Stackley lead the way for the Bulldogs, going 4-for-5 at the plate.

The College of Charleston will now play Georgia Southern in the consolation finals on Saturday, May 28 at Noon. The winner of that game will advance to play Furman in the finals on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Saturday's championship contest will be televised on C-SET.