Saturday, April 30, 2005

(Apr. 30, 2005) - No. 26 College of Charleston scored two runs in the top of the 11^th to defeat East Tennessee State, 13-11 Saturday afternoon in Southern Conference baseball action from Cardinal Park in Johnson City, Tenn. The Bucs rallied to tie the game in the ninth and tenth innings, but the Bucs were unable to come back a third time, stranding two runners in the final inning.

The two teams were scheduled to play again on Saturday afternoon, but the game was suspended in the bottom of the third with the Cougars in the lead, 6-1. Game two will resume tomorrow at 1 p.m., followed by the series finale.

            With College of Charleston (33-9, 17-2 SoCon) ahead 9-8 in the bottom of the ninth, the Bucs (25-12, 11-10) scored a run to send the game to extra innings. Senior second baseman Justin Clear (Lafollette, Tenn.) led off the inning with a double to right. Junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) then hit a bunt single, and Clear crossed the plate, tying the game on a throwing error.

            The Cougars regained the lead with a run in the top of the tenth. With one out in the inning, Brett Anderson crushed a solo home run deep over the centerfield wall.

            But the resilient Bucs rallied with two outs in the 10^th to tie the game again. Senior pinch-hitter Ryan Spriggs (Crossville, Tenn.) hit a single to right field, then hustled home on an RBI double by freshman third baseman Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.).

            CofC took the lead for good in the top of the 11^th. The Cougars loaded the bases with one out in the inning and Chris Campbell then scored on a wild pitch. Brian Hastings followed with an RBI single up the middle, scoring D.J. Wabick.

            Brett Harker (5-0) pitched the final 4.2 innings to earn the win for the Cougars. He allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking none. Senior righty Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.) was charged with the loss (5-1), allowing three runs on five hits in two innings of work.

            Byrne and sophomore centerfielder Steven Douglas (Kennesaw, Ga.) led the Bucs with three hits each on the day. Junior first baseman Blake Church (Roswell, Ga.) had a game-high four RBIs while Byrne and Moore led the team with two runs scored.