Bucs Drop Heartbreaker to Falcons, 2-0

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Anthony Markham pitched his best apperance so far this season, recording nine strike-outs in seven innings

CHARLESTON, SC- The Charleston Southern Buccaneers dropped a heartbreaker to the Falcons of the Air Force Academy in a 2-0 loss Friday afternoon at Buccaneer Ballpark.  The final evens both teams’ records at .500 improving the Falcons to 2-2 while the Bucs move to 3-3 on the season.  The game was decidedly a defensive effort for both teams as both teams’ starting pitchers threw a stellar performance.

The Bucs’ Anthony Markham made his second appearance for the Bucs on the mound, throwing a career high seven innings, allowing only 4 hits, one walk, and recorded a new career best of nine strike outs.  Markham allowed one of the Falcons’ two runs in the top of the sixth inning, but held off and exited the game with no earned runs. Sophomore Jesse Cadenhead took the mound for one inning giving up only one hit, but recording the second run of the game.  Freshman Corey Deighan closed the game for Bucs, giving up no hits or runs and striking out one.

 The Air Force’s Alex Truesdale pitched eight innings before calling in freshman closer Aaron Kurcz who made his first collegiate and finished off the win for the Falcons.  Truesdal allowed eight hits for the Bucs and only one walk facing a game-high 31 batters while striking out seven Buccaneers.  Kurcz faced three and struck out two in his debut. 

The Bucs would fail to get runs against the Falcons, but would show their greatest defensive performance of the season, holding the Falcons’ to shutout innings until the top of the sixth when left fielder Jack Lupo would hit a double advancing teammate Matt Alexander to third who then reached home on an error in the outfield, giving the Falcon’s the 1-0 advantage.  The Bucs would give a valiant effort in the bottom half of the inning to get the run back, but would go 3-4 leaving red-shirt sophomore Nick Chinners on first base after a single.

The Bucs would again hold of the Falcons in the top of the seventh where Markham would go three-up, three-down to have a perfect inning, closing his time on the mound against the Falcons.  Cadenhead would take the mound in the top of the eighth after the Bucs were sent the dugout after four batters, leaving senior catcher Jake Cox on first base after a walk.  The Falcons would score their second and final run of the game on an RBI single for Matt Alexander who went 3 for 4 on the game.  Alexander’s RBI would bring home shortstop K.J. Randhawa, who was walked then advanced to second on a failed pick-off attempt at first base where the throw from the mound landed outside the fence behind first, giving Randhawa the pass to second.

The Bucs would again look as though they could catch the Falcon’s two run advantage after senior Kory Morian singled, followed by a base hit from Chinners to put Morian in scoring position at second.  But Chinners would be out on a fielder’s choice at second after a ground hit from right fielder Tyler Thornburg.  Freshman right hander, Corey Deighan would take the mound for the Bucs in top of the ninth trying to hold off another Falcon run.  Deighan would walk his first batter Daniel Walker, but Walker would be caught in the cross-hairs of an attempted steal at second and called out.  Deighan struck- out Parker Mayo for the second out, while Vai Schierholtz would fly out to center field, bringing the Bucs back to the plate for one last attempt at scoring. 

Freshman Patrick Dolan would lead off with a double down the left field line, but would be left on base after Kurcz entered the game for the Falcons and struck out two of the last three Buccaneer batters, closing the game out with a final score of 2-0. 

The Buccaneers and Falcons hope the expected rain will clear before they return to Buccaneer Ballpark tomorrow afternoon for a double header slated to start at 11:30 a.m.  Please check CSUsports.com for any schedule information that may result from expected weather in the Charleston area. 

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