MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – College of Charleston scored nine runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and Jake Brink picked up the win on the mound on his 21st birthday, leading the Cougars to an 18-5 victory over Northeastern to even the CAA series at a game apiece.

The Cougars (35-12, 17-5 CAA) can clinch at least second place in the conference and a first round bye in the tournament with a win in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. Prior to the game, the Charleston baseball program will honor its 11 seniors.

Brink went five innings, allowing four hits and four runs (only one earned) with five strikeouts, to pick up his eighth win of the season. Alex Lyon struck out three in three innings out of the bullpen and surrendered only one run.

The Cougars trailed 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth when Will Baumhofer (triple), Cole Mathis (single) and Cole Singsank (double) had consecutive RBI base hits to highlight a five-run frame. An inning later, Singsank blasted a three-run homer to build the Charleston margin to 12-4.

Singsank continued his personal version of home run derby when he hit another three-run shot in the seventh to give him seven RBI on the day. The graduate transfer has three consecutive two-home run games with 14 RBI and a team-leading 16 round trippers on the season.

The Cougars have hit at least one long ball in 20 of their past 24 games with a total of 49 over that stretch during which time they have won 21 contests. Charleston has also reached double figures in runs 13 times and hits on 18 occasions during its current hot streak.

The Charleston bats finished with 16 hits for a total of 36 in the two games so far against the Huskies, with Singsank adding a second double as part of his four extra base hit day and joining Mathis with four runs scored. Luke Wood drive in three runs, and Baumhofer, Mathis and Tyler Sorrentino each had two RBI.