Bucs blow four-run cushion in ninth; fall to visiting UCF 7-5

Jeff Kolhagen was 3-for-5 with a HR.

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern's three-homerun day was spoiled in the top of the ninth as the University of Central Florida Golden Knights rallied for six of their seven runs to slip past the Bucs 7-5 in an otherwise beautiful day at Buccaneer Field. UCF used five singles, six walks, and an error to produce the winning margin.

UCF reliever Kyle Bono (5-2) retired three of four batters in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the win. CSU sophomore Ian Holmen (1-4), appearing for 1/3 inning, was responsible for the loss.

CSU sophomore R. J. Swindle, who had won six straight decisions entering the contest, opened the game with two innings of work. Golden Knight Nathan Kragt's run in the first inning broke Swindle's string of 33 consecutive innings without an earned run. Jeff Kolhagen responded in the second, getting the first of three hits on the day and scoring off Billy Dalton's RBI single.

Kolhagen again ignited the Buccaneer offense in the fourth with a leadoff homerun over left center. UCF starting pitcher Lincoln Mincks walked Brian Sole, then gave up a two-run dinger to Scotty Thacker as a parting prize.

Gearing up for a weekend series with Elon, Coach Gary Murphy used Bobby Parnell, Nino Fasulo, and Brad Bissell in six innings of shutout pitching where only three hits were registered.

Charleston Southern (15-29) scored once more off a solo homer from Jordan Haar, who leads the team with nine homeruns.

The Golden Knights (27-20) made a remarkable comeback in the ninth with six runs on five hits. After P.J. Lehmann started the inning by reaching base on an error, pinch hitter Brian Steenson walked to put the first two runners on base. After a passed ball advanced the two into scoring position, Clay Timpner singled through the ride side to plate Lehmann, cutting the lead to 5-2. Ryan Bono kept the rally alive with a single to center, scoring Steenson and slicing the CSU advantage to 5-3. Ryan Bear followed with UCF's third straight RBI-single to score Timpner and bring UCF to within one at 5-4. Pinch hitter Bryan Granino came up next and executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third base with only one out.

The ninth inning magic continued as David Mann singled down the left field line to tie the contest at five. The RBI-single spree continued in the next at-bat as Drew Butera laced a single into right field scoring Bear to pull UCF ahead 6-5. Steenson added a bases loaded walk to force in another run to pad the lead to 7-5. Bono struck out three and walked one to end the game.

Charleston Southern returns to action Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. against conference foe Elon.