CLINTON, S.C. -- Bolstered by back-to-back notable pitching performances from
Andrew Buffkin and
Trip Brown, The Citadel (25-22, 6-9 SoCon) secured the three-game weekend sweep of Presbyterian (10-38, 6-12 Big South) behind a pair of doubleheader victories Sunday afternoon, initially topping the Blue Hose in a 3-0 seven-inning shutout before narrowly edging the hosts via a 2-1 margin across another seven frames at Elton Pollock Field.
"Great weekend for our pitching and defense. Our guys threw really well on the mound, and the bullpen continues to step up and get big outs," head coach
Russell Triplett said. "The running game was big for us and did just enough offensively to win each game."
GAME ONE RECAP
Offensively,
Lane Tobin set the tone with two hits and two runs scored, additionally logging a pair of walks.
Michael Gibson and
Christian Stratis notched an RBI apiece with one hit each as well.
Jayden Williams also picked up one knock with a walk while crossing home plate on one occasion.
On the mound, Buffkin (4-2) tossed 5.1 frames en route to the win, surrendering the lone hit of the game for the Bulldogs with three walks and six strikeouts.
Ben Brash stepped in to finish out the sixth, punching out one along the way, before Gibson took over for the final frame, earning his seventh save of the season with no hits allowed and setting down on batter on strikes.
Notably, the one-hit outing from the pitching staff serves as the first such performance since March 5, 2002, when T.A. Fulmer tossed a complete 9.0 frames behind a one-hit, 15-strikeout showing to lead The Citadel over Charleston Southern via a 4-0 mark.
For the Blue Hose, James Green broke up the no-hitter in the sixth via a bunt single. Eli Bowery (0-1) suffered the loss after putting in 1.2 innings of work, giving up just one run on no hits.
GAME TWO RECAP
At the plate,
Carson Hodges generated the lone hit for The Citadel while Williams pushed across the only RBI on a fielder's choice.
TJ Anderson posted the go-ahead run after Gibson reached on a throwing error while
Matthew Lively crossed home for a key insurance score.
Brown (2-3) garnered the victory after pitching the first 5.0 frames, striking out five while allowing just three hits for no runs.
CJ Van Slooten handled 0.2 innings during the sixth, giving up the solo run to the Blue Hose on two hits, before
Zane Davis stepped in for the final 1.2 frames of action, collecting his first save on the year while setting down a pair of batters on strikes.
For PC, both Green and Emory Guilford notched two hits apiece while the latter picked up the lone RBI for the Blue Hose. On the mound, Tristan McGregor (1-6) surrendered one unearned run on two walks en route to the loss, tossing the opening 0.2 innings for Presbyterian.
UP NEXT
Next up, the Bulldogs take a well-deserved five-day hiatus before returning to Southern Conference action on May 8-10, hosting a three-game set against Samford at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
-- #jOURney --
