CHARLESTON, S.C. — Powered by an explosive five-homer performance, The Citadel (15-16) claimed a decisive 14–6 victory over crosstown adversary Charleston Southern (20-11) on Tuesday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Michael Gibson spearheaded the offensive surge with three hits, including two home runs, en route to a season-high four RBIs.
TJ Anderson launched a home run as well, tallying three RBIs.
Zach Hunt added to the scoreboard with two hits, one two-run shot for a pair of RBIs.
Phillips Daniels crossed home plate twice, adding a hit and an RBI to the tally.
Christian Stratis made his mark by scoring a season-high three runs, knocking his first homer of the season as well.
Notably, Gibson serves as the first Bulldog to hit multiple home runs in a single game this season. The last two-homer individual showing came courtesy of
Travis Elliott against the Buccaneers on May 13, 2025.
Additionally, The Citadel's five home runs are the most in a game since 2023, just one shy of the all-time record of six last set against Charleston Southern in 2013. Finally, the Bulldogs recorded their 12th game with ten or more hits, notching 12 on the day.
On the mound,
Andrew Bowers pitched 5.0 innings for the Bulldogs in the start, giving up seven hits and six runs, including three earned, while striking out two to earn his first win of the year.
Zane Davis,
Ben Brash,
Jacob Deacon, and
Josh Davis each tossed one scoreless frame, the latter of which logged his first collegiate appearance as well. The bullpen combined to allow just two hits over 4.0 clean innings.
For the Buccaneers, Chandler Tuupo went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer and scored two runs. Zach Stichweh took the loss after pitching 2.2 innings, giving up four runs on three hits with four strikeouts.
"I thought they responded yesterday, which might have been one of the best days of the year, practice-wise. We gave up three runs in the first inning. We responded, chipped away at it, and played offense, and we're not going to rely on five home runs in a game on most days," said head coach
Russell Triplett. "But the wind was blowing, the ball was carrying, and our guys took some of the best swings I've seen from them all year. Then we were able to focus on offense and do more of what it takes to score runs later in the game with a bunt game. Overall, I thought they swung the bats well."
Next up, the Bulldogs travel to Rock Hill, S.C., to face Winthrop on Wednesday, April 8 with first pitch slated for 6 p.m ET.
