Box Score

May 24, 2006

Charleston, S.C. - Senior Jess Easterling drove in a career-high five runs in the game as second-seeded College of Charleston held off a late rally for the 13-5 victory over seventh-seeded UNC Greensboro in Southern Conference Quarterfinal Championship action at Riley Park Wednesday afternoon.

The Cougars amassed 18 hits in the game while UNCG notched 12 hits, four of which came in the ninth. Meanwhile, the Spartan defense suffered through four errors in the game. UNCG rallied late, scoring four runs in the top of the ninth, but failed to overcome the large deficit incurred throughout the game.

The College of Charleston jumped on the board early, 2-0, as shortstop Jess Easterling hit a two-run triple to left field, scoring Chris Campbell and Larry Cobb who both reached on consecutive singles. Cobb's single continued an 11-game hit streak for the junior centerfielder who scored one of his career-high four runs in the game.

UNC Greensboro cut the Charleston lead in half in the top of the third as Sean Snell hit an RBI-single in the top of the third to score Roly Gonzalez. Snell was then caught stealing to end the inning and the Spartan threat.

CofC added another run to their lead as Alex Garabedian hit a bloop single over the shortstop's head with two outs, taking advantage of a drawn-in Spartan infield, as Cobb raced home for the run.

The Cougars broke it open in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-1 lead. CofC sent four runs across the plate in an inning that was capped off by a two-run double by Easterling as the senior shortstop drove in his third and fourth runs of the game.

Easterling drove in his fifth run of the game - a season high for any Cougar - in the sixth as his single plated Cobb to make it an 8-1 game. The Cougars added another two runs in the inning, one unearned as Spartan leftfielder Brandon Harvey dropped an easy fly ball that hit his glove with two outs as Cougar catcher Alex Garabedian raced home to give CofC the 10-1 advantage.

The Cougars added three runs in the eighth as junior Ben Lasater hit a two-out, two-run single to right. Garabedian had previously scored in the inning off of Graham Maiden's single. The 13 runs by the Cougars are the most scored by CofC in a SoCon tournament game.

UNCG rallied late, scoring four runs with one out and was sitting with bases loaded before leftfielder Brandon Harvey grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Graham Godfrey (8-2) picked up a career high eighth win for the Cougars (40-15) as Charleston became the first Southern Conference team to record three consecutive 40-win seasons.

The Cougars advance to Game 9 on Thursday, May 25 at 4 p.m., as CofC will face sixth-seeded Western Carolina. The Catamounts upset third-seeded Furman, 14-1, in earlier tournament action. UNC Greensboro (25-32) will face Furman on May 25 at 10 a.m., in the Loser's Bracket. Nick Starnes (4-5) is credited with the loss for the Spartans.