CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston baseball opened up the 2024 season series with Charleston Southern Tuesday evening. The Cougars led into the 7th inning before CSU stormed back to take the game 7-5 for their first win over the Cougars since 2019. 

Charleston started Daniel Brooks on the mound for his first appearance of the campaign. The redshirt sophomore looked sharp, throwing one inning, striking out two while retiring the Bucs in order. Jeb Bradford came in to throw three shutout innings in relief of Brooks, surrendering just two hits with four strikeouts. Charleston took the lead in the fourth inning when Kevin Madden's high fly-ball just crept over the left field wall for a two-run homer.

In the sixth, CSU got on the board with a two-out, RBI single by Chandler Tuupo. Tuupo was thrown out at second by Avery Neaves after the run crossed the plate. In the 7th, CSU took the lead when John Emendorfer singled to center. One run came in on the hit and then the leading run came in after the ball was bobbled in the outfield. Now leading 3-2, the Bucs did not stop there, Tuupo brought in another run on an RBI single in the 8th before Lucas Pringle smacked a three-run homer to right, putting CSU up 7-2. 

Charleston got back into the game in the bottom of the 8th when Avery Neaves hit a two run homer to make it 7-4. The next batter, Luke Wood hit a solo shot to make it 7-5. The Cougars got the winning run to the plate in the ninth but where unable to score as CSU took game one of the season series 7-5. 

Key Cougars

• Avery Neaves went 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and a double. 
• Cole Singsank went 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored. 
• Luke Wood went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and was hit-by-pitch.
• Dylan Johnson went 2-for-3 with a stolen base.  

Up Next

The Cougars are back home this weekend for a three game set with Wofford. The series begins Friday at 4:00 p.m.