CHARLESTON, S.C. - James Reeves tossed the first Citadel no-hitter in 13 years and tied his season high with 14 strikeouts as  the Bulldogs blanked Mercer 4-0 in the opening game of a Southern Conference series Thursday night at Riley Park.

The no-hitter was the sixth in school history and the first since T.A. Fulmer accomplished the feat against East Tennessee State on March 29, 2002. Reeves also struck out 14 in his first start of the season against Air Force and came within one of his career high set against Davidson in 2014.

The win snapped a six-game losing streak for The Citadel, which improved to 15-13 and 1-3 in the SoCon. Mercer, playing only its fourth game against the Bulldogs since 1991, dropped to 18-13 and 5-2 in the league. 

The redshirt junior left-hander was in control all night, allowing only three Bears to get into scoring position, one of those coming on a two-base error in the fourth, and Mercer did not have more than one runner on base in any inning.

Reeves walked Charlie Madden to lead off the ninth before striking out Howard Joe and Danny Edgeworth to move within one out of history. On a 2-2 pitch, Jackson Ware hit a foul pop up that second baseman Jacob Watcher ran down in The Citadel bullpen to set off a celebration in front of the Bulldog dugout.

Mercer entered the game as the second-leading scoring team in the SoCon with 190 runs and was third in the nation in home runs with 37.

The Bulldogs scored the only run Reeves (5-1) would need in the first. Austin Mapes singled and Drew Ellis walked and were at first and second with two outs when Stephen Windham drove a double into the gap in left center. Mapes scored easily but Ellis was gunned down at the plate keeping it to a one-run inning.

In addition to winning his 17th career game, the most by any active SoCon pitcher, Reeves lowered his season ERA to 2.83 and increased his strikeout total to 62 in 47 2/3 innings.

It appeared Reeves and Mercer starter Danny Nyquist were headed to a classic pitcher's duel before The Citadel opened up a working margin in the fourth. Ellis doubled, Connor Walsh walked and Windham placed a perfect bunt between the mound and third base line to load the bases with nobody out.

Jason Smith bounced a single through the right side to make it 2-0, and one out later William Kinney lined a single into right center to drive home two more. Smith extended his streak of consecutive games reaching base to 19 while Windham had three of The Citadel's seven base hits. 

Nyquist went six innings and allowed all seven hits and runs. He entered the game leading the SoCon with an opponent batting average of .151 and was third in the league with a 2.15 ERA.

The series continues with games on Friday at 5 and Saturday at 1. Both can be seen on the SoCon Digital Network.