CHARLESTON, S.C. — An 11-run fifth inning powered The Citadel (17-19) to a commanding 15–5 victory over Charleston Southern (21-14) on Tuesday night at Nielsen Field.
Zach Hunt went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, contributing to a career and team single-game season high of five RBIs. Hunt leads the team with seven home runs, the most in a season since 2024, and 29 RBIs.
Michael Gibson scored three times and added three RBIs on two hits.
Christian Stratis recorded a season-high three hits, including a double, and drove in three runs.
Hunt joins Gibson as the last Bulldog to have a multi-home run game this season, with Gibson hitting two home runs against Charleston Southern on April 7. The Bulldogs recorded their 14th game of the season with ten or more hits.
The Citadel's 11-run fifth inning serves as the most runs in an inning since the Bulldogs set a new program record against UT-Martin with 14 on March 13. In the past three games against Charleston Southern, the Bulldogs have outscored the Buccaneers 44-19.
Jacob Deacon started the game for the Bulldogs, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing six hits and three runs, two of which were earned, without issuing a walk or recording a strikeout.
Riley Ballard provided a strong relief performance over three innings, allowing no hits or runs while striking out four and walking two, earning his fourth win of the season.
Mason Yokum pitched 1.1 innings, giving up one hit and two earned runs on three walks and one strikeout.
Steven Trone closed the game with 0.2 of an inning pitched, retiring all batters faced with one strikeout on just six pitches.
For the Buccaneers, Kain Collins recorded two hits. Caden Wolfley and Cross Yarborough each tallied two RBIs. Tristian Stephenson took the loss after pitching 1.0 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out two.
"It's nice to get back on the winning track. I thought we made many of the same mistakes early in the game that showed up this past weekend, but I didn't think they'd affect us for the rest of the game," said head coach
Russell Triplett. "We talked about that today, about not letting mistakes linger and affect you two or three innings later, and I thought we got a little cleaner after that. I could tell from BP that our guys were on a mission, not trying to do too much. So, it was a good offensive day. Good to get back on the winning track. We'll practice tomorrow to get ready for the weekend."
Up next, The Citadel travels to Johnson City, Tenn., for a three-game conference series against the ETSU Buccaneers on April 17-19.
