CHARLESTON, S.C. — A career day on the mound from
Will Holmes set the tone early as The Citadel (26-22, 7-9 SoCon) secured a decisive 10–4 victory over Samford (25-22, 9-7 SoCon) in game one a three-game weekend set at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The Bulldogs' offense was highlighted by a pair of home runs and four doubles, contributing to their 12-hit performance.
Michael Gibson led the offense with a season-high four hits, including a solo shot over the right-field wall and a double, and drove in three runs. On the year, the senior leads the team with a .389 batting average.
TJ Anderson added a home run of his own, tallying three RBIs on the blast and building on his team-best 35 RBI mark.
Lane Tobin crossed the plate three times as well, and notably broke the single-season program record for most hits-by-pitch at 23, previously held by Bo Thompson (22) and set during the 2014 campaign.
On the mound, Holmes (5-4) delivered a standout performance, pitching 6.0 innings with a career-high 12 strikeouts and allowing just one run. Following the win, the grad student now leads the Southern Conference with 89 strikeouts on the year.
Ben Brash stepped in for a frame, allowing a solo home run while striking out one.
CJ Van Slooten closed the game with 2.0 innings of work, giving up one hit and one walk, striking out three, and allowing a home run.
"Great start to the weekend.
Will Holmes was good, as good as he's been all year. He keeps getting better, and this was the best start of the year. We needed it," said head coach
Russell Triplett. "Offensively, we got contributions throughout the lineup. Anderson and Gibson each had a big swing, and together they had quality at-bats. Now we have to turn the page and be ready for the next nine innings."
For Samford, Luke Boykin and Eddie Marshall notched a homer apiece while Gus Gandy collected a RBI on a triple in the sixth. Joseph Lee (3-2) suffered the loss after tossing 4.0 frames in the start, giving up five runs on as many hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Up next, The Citadel hosts a 6 p.m. matchup against Samford on Friday, May 8 in the latter half of a doubleheader at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
