MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – The College of Charleston scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to hand The Citadel a 9-8 defeat Tuesday night at Patriots Point.
 
Game Information
Score: Charleston 9, The Citadel 8
Records: Charleston (33-19), The Citadel (10-41)
Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (Patriots Point)
 
Key Plays

• Charleston got three bloop singles and took advantage of two errors to score the five runs in the eighth inning.
• Cole Simpson came off the bench with two outs in the ninth and hit a ball that would have been a game-tying home run, but the right fielder reached over the wall and pulled it back to end the game.

 
How it Happened

• The 'Dogs jumped out quickly as Ryan McCarthy was hit by a pitch and stole second. After a walk to Tyler Corbitt, Ben Peden drove in McCarthy with a single through the right side.
• Back-to-back walks to Ches Goodman and Wesley Lane drove in the second run and J.D. Davis plated the third run with a sacrifice fly.
• The Citadel extended the lead in the second after loading the bases on singles from Brooks O'Brien and Corbitt, and a walk to Peden.
• Goodman lined a ball into the outfield that was deep enough to score O'Brien from third.
• After the Cougars scored a run in the third, the 'Dogs came back with three more runs in the fourth.
• McCarthy started the inning with a double and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Goodman.
• Davis drove in two more runs with a base hit to left field.
• CofC began its comeback over the next couple innings as the Cougars scored two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth.
• The Bulldogs got back on the board in the eighth when Corbitt singled and hustled to score from first when Peden's ball to right field was misplayed.
• The bottom of the inning proved to be the difference as four singles and an error scored two runs and loaded the bases. A hit batter and a walk with the bases loaded tied the game before a throw from the outfield on a fly ball went over the head of the catcher, allowing the game-winning run to score on the error.
• The Bulldogs nearly tied the game with two outs in the ninth when Cole Simpson came off the bench and hammered a ball to right center. What looked to be a home run, turned into the final out as Bradley Dixon stuck his glove over the wall and pulled the ball back for the final out.

 
Inside the Box Score

• The Bulldogs implemented a staff day on the mound with Jordan Merritt getting the start. The senior allowed just one hit in two shutout innings.
• Morgan Foulks worked himself in and out of trouble in a scoreless fourth inning.
• Cameron Reeves struck out one in a scoreless inning of work.
• Zach Taglieri (0-2) took the loss after surrendering five runs, three earned, on four hits in five batters faced.
• The Bulldogs got production throughout the lineup as four different players had multi-hit games.
• Brooks O'Brien led the way by going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
• J.D. Davis finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
• Tyler Corbitt and Ben Peden each collected two hits.
• Wesley Lane finished 1-for-2 with a RBI and three walks.
• Ches Goodman did not have a hit, but drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and a groundout.
• Ryan McCarthy doubled and scored two runs out of the leadoff spot.
• Trey Fields (2-0) picked up the victory in relief after allowing an unearned run on three hits over 3.2 innings.
• Josh Price (1) retired all three hitters he faced to earn the save.

 
On Deck
The Bulldogs close out the regular season as they travel to face Western Carolina May 16-18. The first two games of the series are set for 5 p.m., while Saturday's finale is set for 2 p.m.