CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston baseball opened up the 2024 season Friday night with the first of four against Marshall. After taking an early 1-0 lead through an RBI double by Cole Mathis, the Cougars broke the game open with a six-run fourth inning and never looked back in a 15-3 win. 

Dariyan Pendergrass got things started in the first with a lead-off walk. The speedy transfer quickly scored his first run for the program on a double Cole Mathis. Marshall starter Drew Harlow was able to work through the inning and limit the Cougars offense to just one run in the first. Cougars starter Jake Brink continued to pitch well in the second with a clean inning. Brink worked around some walks but never yielded a hit to the Herd in five plus innings pitched.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars offense came through with six runs, sparked by a two-run homer by Avery Neaves. Neaves homer was the first of five straight hits by the Cougars in the fourth which was capped by a Cole Mathis homer to make it 7-0. 

Charleston would add on in the sixth and seventh as they cruised to a big win in the opener. 

Key Cougars

• Jake Brink started the season off strong with five no-hit innings of work. The sophomore finished with five strikeouts and four walks. 
• Cole Mathis finished 3-for-4 on the night with three RBI, a walk and pair of runs scored. 
• Avery Neaves finished with three RBI and a home run. Neaves was one of six different Cougars to finish with two hits. 

Game notes

• Charleston moves to 7-0 in season openers under head coach Chad Holbrook.

Up Next

• Charleston will send Aidan Hunter to the mound tomorrow in game two against the Herd at 2:00 p.m.