MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Junior LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla./Broward College) blasted a three-run home run to left, sparking a five-run seventh inning, as College of Charleston knocked off Charleston Southern University 9-4 Tuesday night at Patriots Point. CofC took all three games from the Buccaneers this season, extending their winning streak to 13 games over their local non-conference rival.
The two clubs traded single runs in the opening inning, with Charleston Southern (10-16) taking the early lead on a RBI double to right center by Nick Chinners. The Cougars (20-7) knotted the score with a RBI single up the middle by senior 2B Joey Bergman (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) that scored junior RF Baker Knox (San Mateo, Fla./Daytona Beach CC), who walked to lead off the frame.
Charleston added two runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead. With two outs, Bergman walked on five pitches and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Buccaneers starter Patrick Dolan. Sophomore 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla./American Heritage) followed up with his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field.
The Bucs cut the deficit in half with a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Dolan that scored Tyler Thornburg. Thornburg reached on a single to left and stole second base, before reaching third on a fielding error by junior SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C./USC Sumter JC). The Cougars restored the two-run advantage in the top of the sixth on a leadoff home run to right center by junior DH Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J./Randolph). The round-tripper was Kral's sixth of the season.
Knox opened the seventh with his third walk of the game. Junior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C./Wando) lined a single to the left side, moving Knox to second and Knox went to third on a fielding error by CSU shortstop Walt Quattlebaum. Knox scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Bergman. After Rakar stole second, Rodriguez deposited a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall for his eight home run of the season. Senior 1B Greg Blake (Westerly, R.I./Lake City CC) roped a double down the left-field line and was brought home on a RBI single up the middle by junior C Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, S.C./Forbush).
CSU closed out the game with a pair of runs in the ninth, scoring a pair of unearned runs on a throwing error by Holler and a RBI single through the right side by Tom Burkett.
Charleston freshman LHP Jake Zokan (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley) earned his second win of the season, allowing two runs and scattering five hits over five innings and striking out four. Dolan took the loss for the Buccaneers, allowing three runs and two hits with five walks over five innings.
The Cougars return to action this weekend as they host Georgia Southern in a Southern Conference doubleheader at Patriots Point. Friday's game is set for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch.
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