Cross-town Rivals Come Together for Bigger Cause

In the teams' meeting earlier this season, the College of Charleston got the best of the CSU baseball team, 12-4. The Buccaneers will be looking to even the home-and-home series when the Cougars come to Buccaneer Field at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. But both teams know there are bigger things than winning and losing. That's why all proceeds from the game will go to the MLP Foundation, which has been set up for Charleston head coach John Pawlowski’s daughter, Mary Louise, who is battling cancer.

Full Game Notes for April 1 (College of Charleston)

Media Coverage
Live Video (Big South Edge, subscription service)

Live Stats (Gametracker)

Series Notes
With a 12-4 victory over CSU at Patriot’s Point on March 5, the College of Charleston took a 31-11 lead in the all-time series with the Buccaneers. Freshman Tom Burkett had a three-run home run for CSU in the loss. The Cougars won the series 3-1 last season, with the Bucs lone victory coming on February 20, 2007 at Buccaneer Field. Junior Mark Perry went 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Scouting the Highlanders
A high-powered offense has led the College of Charleston to a 18-9 record on the year and a 5-1 mark in Southern Conference play. Gabe Marchant and Michael Harrington are leading the way for the Cougars, belting 11 and 10 home runs, respectively. The duo lead five players with 26 or more RBI on the season, helping Charleston score 312 runs to its opponents 226 on the year.
Jordan Tiegs, the probable starter for the Cougars, is a flexible member of the team’s pitching staff. He has appeared in seven games this season, making two starts. In his 19 innings of work, Tiegs has given up 19 earned runs on 29 hits, seven walks and three hit batsmen. He has nine strikeouts and opponents are hitting .358 of the junior righty.
Jesse Simpson (11) and Mike Lynn (10) are the top reliever for Charleston, ranking first and second in appearances this season. They are also one-two in saves with four and three, respectively.

Last Time Out
RADFORD, Va. – Two Buccaneers hit home runs, but Radford scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning en route to a 12-8 win over the CSU baseball team. Redshirt-freshman Nick Chinners and freshman Taylor Black each belted homers to help the Buccaneers build a six-run lead before the Highlanders stormed back with 10 runs over three innings. Radford won the weekend series three games to two, winning the opener and the finale.

Who’s Your Taylor?
Freshman infielder Taylor Black had just two hits in his first five starts of the season, giving him a .100 batting average and a spot on the Bucs’ bench. But since returning to the starting lineup on March 12, Black has upped his average to .301 on the season and leads the team with 10 doubles. His .521 slugging percentage ranks third on the squad.

In Production
Being a designated hitter can be a difficult adjustment for a player, having to sit on the bench while the others stay loose on the field. But freshman Derek Smith has shown no ill effect in the DH spots, leading the team with a .384 batting average and a 24 runs batted in. Having drawn 10 walks on the season, he ranks second wit a .443 on-base percentage.

On The List
Junior catch Jake Cox has been named to the 2008 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award Watch List, given annually to the top division one collegiate catcher. On the season, Cox has an on-base percentage of .380 thanks to 15 drawn walks, which is second on the squad. He has thrown out 12 of 21 runners trying to steal bases on him this season, thwarting .571 percent of the attempts.

On The Horizon
Before returning to Big South action, the Bucs will travel to Savannah State to take on the Tigers in a mid-week show down. The game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. High Point will be in town this weekend, with a three-game series beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday. It will conclude with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday.