MT PLEASANT, S.C. – College of Charleston baseball defeated VCU 12-2 in seven innings in the first game of the doubleheader before losing game two, 10-9, Saturday at Patriots Point.
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The Cougars earn its first series win of the campaign, heading into its first midweek contest with a 2-1 record.Â
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Senior
Aidan Hunter tossed six innings, allowing five hits in the morning contest. After yielding two runs in the first, the righty held the Rams scoreless over the next five frames before redshirt junior
Daniel Brooks struck out two batters in the top of the seventh.
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In game two, sophomore
Hayden Thomas allowed three runs in four innings in his fourth career start.
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Graduate student
Avery Neaves went 4-for-8 with six runs scored, three doubles, three RBI and three walks on the day.
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CRITICAL POINTS AGAINST VCU IN GAME ONE:
- After allowing two runs in the top of the first, Charleston plated 12 unanswered runs.
- Hunter earned the quality start, tossing 80 pitches across the six innings of work.
- Brooks pitched a scoreless seventh, fanning a pair.
- The first four batters in the Cougars lineup each recorded two RBI.
- Freshman Landon Penfield made his collegiate debut, going 1-for-3 with 2 RBI.
- Neaves hit a walk-off two-run double, giving Charleston its second run-rule win of the year.
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CRITICAL POINTS AGAINST VCU IN GAME TWO:
- Neaves scored three runs for the second time on the day in six plate appearances.
- Freshman Hunter Phipps and redshirt freshman Kevin Samonsky made their collegiate debuts out of the bullpen.
- Six Charleston batters recorded multi-hit contests in the setback.
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OF NOTE:
- Charleston and VCU are tied 5-5 in the all-time series after the doubleheader split.
- CofC scored 10-plus runs in the first two games of the season for the first time since 2008.
- The Cougars improved to 81-4 when scoring 10-plus runs under head coach Chad Holbrook.
- Neaves scored nine times in 15 trips to the plate in the opening weekend.
- Will Baumhofer leads the Cougars with 7 RBI while redshirt junior Ethan Plyler recorded 6 RBI in the opening weekend.
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UP NEXT:
Charleston hits the road to face Coastal Carolina on Wednesday, Feb. 19. First pitch from Springs Brooks Stadium is set for 4 p.m. and will air live on ESPN+.
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