Bucs outhit, but can't outscore, the Citadel

Scotty Thacker was 3-for-5 from the plate with a RBI double.

CHARLESTON, SC—Jon Aughey, a sophomore second baseman, stole five bases, scored two runs, and had two hits to lead The Citadel over Lowcountry rival Charleston Southern 7-5 in college baseball action Wednesday night in the first Military/Veterans Appreciation Night at Riley Park. Aughey's five stolen bases tied the Bulldogs' single game stolen base mark, which was formerly held by Mike Knox who swiped five bags versus Chattanooga in 1982.

The Citadel (27-21, 15-9 SoCon) put five runs on the board in the bottom of the first on three hits, a CSU error and a hit by pitch. Aughey, who led off the game for the Bulldogs with a HBP, quickly swiped second and after an Andy Phillips walk, took third on a double steal as Phillips stole second. Forcing a bad throw at third on the double steal, Aughey raced home as the ball bounced into left field. Brook Dantzler followed with a run-scoring single that allowed Phillips to scored from second. With the bases loaded, Josh Stackley drew a base on balls driving in Dantzler and then Trent Weathers followed with a two-RBI single to give The Citadel an early 5-0 lead. Chip Cannon, who walked, and Chris Ard, who reached on a bunt single to load the bases, scored on Weathers' single.

Charleston Southern (16-32, 8-10 Big South) answered with two runs, 5-2, in the top of the second as the Bucs got a bases loaded walk of their own as Citadel starting pitcher Ryan Owens walked Jordan Haar with the sacs full to score Scott Thacker, who started the rally with a leadoff double to left centerfield. Following the bases loaded walk, Brad Woods was hit by an Owens pitch with the bases loaded driving in Brian Sole, who also reached first on a HBP.

The Bulldogs matched the Bucs two runs with two runs in the bottom half of the second to jump ahead 7-2. Dantzler got his second RBI of the night as he plated Jon Aughey from third on a groundout to second. Aughey led off the inning with a single and again stole second and third to get into scoring position. Phillips, who stole second and advanced to third on Dantzler's groundout after walking to reach base, was driven-in as Cannon singled through the right side of the infield.

The Bucs refused to be held down as they posted their second straight two-run inning in the top of the third drawing closer 7-4. Brandon Massey plated CSU's first run of the inning on a RBI single to right that plated Jeff Kolhagen, who doubled to lead off inning. The second run of the inning for the Bucs came on the second double of the inning. William Dalton doubled to the right centerfield gap plating Massey from first.

The final run of the game was scored by Charleston Southern in the sixth inning making the score 7-5. With two outs, Sole walked with the bases full plating Adrian Vanderburg. Vanderburg singled to left with one out to get the rally started. Citadel relief pitcher John Pollock got Dalton to bounce out to second with the bases loaded to squelch the Buc rally and end the inning.

After walking the bases loaded, Bulldog reliever Matt Hamer struck out Haar to squash the Charleston Southern hopes of a rally and come-from-behind victory.

CSU travels up the coast for a weekend series with Coastal Carolina beginning Friday.