Thursday, May 26, 2005

CHARLESTON. S.C. (May 26, 2005) - The Citadel scored ten runs in the first three innings and withheld a late East Tennessee State rally in a 10-6 victory over the Buccaneers Thursday afternoon in the 2005 Southern Conference Tournament from Riley Park in Charleston, S.C.

            Sixth-seeded The Citadel (24-33) took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. Chris Ard reached on an error with one out and Jon Aughey walked with two down. Matt Matulia then doubled to left-center to score both runners.

            The Bulldogs then rallied for eight runs in the bottom of the third. Aughey, Josh Stackley, Brady Mashak and Chance Smith hit RBI singles in the inning while Chris Swauger hit a run-scoring double. Matt Covington also drove in two runs with a triple and Matulia hit a sacrifice fly.

            No. 7 seed East Tennessee State (31-22) got on the board in the top of the sixth with a solo homer over the left field wall by junior shortstop Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.).

            The Bucs cut the Bulldog lead to 10-3 with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Junior first baseman Blake Church (Roswell, Ga.) walked with one out and senior second baseman Nick Crowe (Johnson City, Tenn.) followed with a two-run blast over the left field wall.

            ETSU scored their final three runs in the top of the eighth. Hargis led off the inning with his second home run of the game, another solo shot to left. Junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) then walked and scored on a subsequent double by senior pinch-hitter Ryan Spriggs (Crossville, Tenn.). Spriggs would later cross the plate on an RBI single by Crowe.

            Justin Smith earned the win (4-1) for the Bulldogs, pitching 7.1 innings and allowing six runs on nine hits. He also struck out four and walked three in the win.

            Buccaneer senior righty Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.) made his first career start, and was charged with the loss (6-3). He pitched 2.2 innings, giving up six earned runs on seven hits.

            Hargis led the Bucs at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Crowe was also 3-for-4, scoring a run and driving in three.