Big Inning Pushes Blue Hose Past Bucs, 16-13

CHARLESTON, SC- The Bucs dropped their game Friday afternoon to the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College by a final of 16-13, despite battling back twice from Blue Hose rallies, coming as close as one run.  But the Blue Hose’s eight runs the fourth inning were enough to push them to victory as they claimed just their second conference victory of the season.  The loss drops the Bucs to 13-24 on the season and 8-9 in conference play, while Presbyterian moves to 6-28 on the season and 2-16 in Big South play. 

 Presbyterian’s Garrett Moore would tally the win from the mound in 3.2 innings of work, allowing four runs on three hits and striking out three.  The Bucs’ opener, Anthony Markham (2-4), would tally the loss in 4.0 innings of work allowing eight runs on nine hits after facing 22 batters.

 The Bucs saw five players tally two hits apiece, while freshman Patrick Dolan would lead the team with three RBI on three at-bats.  Catcher Blake Hunt would round the bases three times on two hits to lead the Bucs in scoring, while four other Bucs also crossed the plate multiple times.

 The Bucs would hold off the Blue Hose through the first three innings retiring nine of the first ten batters, a big fourth inning would put the Blue Hose up 8-0 entering the bottom of the inning.  The Bucs would tally four of their own in the bottom of the fourth and add another three in the fifth to pull within one of the Blue Hose entering the sixth inning. 

 Center fielder Tom Burkett would lead of the fourth with a base hit, followed by Dolan with a double.  First Baseman Nick Chinners would hit and RBI single to bring home Burkett for the Bucs’ first run of the game.  The Blue Hose would manage a double play but for the first two outs of the inning, but Dolan would cross home from third, while Chinners would advance to take his place on the bag.  Blake Hunt would find himself hit by a pitch to take first and advanced to second on a walk to Keith Hustedt, before both Hunt and Chinners would cross home on a RBI double from senior short stop Mark Perry.

 The Bucs would add another three in the bottom of the fifth as Burkett again lead off with a single.  Dolan and Chinners would each reach base before senior right fielder Tyler Thornburg would hit a RBI double to drive home Dolan and Burkett.  Chinners would follow with the third run of the inning to pull the Bucs within one on a ground out from senior Kory Morian.  

 The Blue Hose would respond with runs of their own however, scoring two in the sixth and seventh innings each, then adding one more in the eighth before the Bucs could tally another run.  Hustedt would use a sacrifice fly to cross pinch runner Bentley Christmas over home.  With bases loaded, the Blue Hose pitcher would walk Dolan advancing Hunt home for his second run of the game and the inning.  The Blue Hose would continue to rally however scoring in each of the final four innings, adding another three in the top of the ninth. 

 The Bucs’ four runs in the bottom of the ninth wouldn’t be enough to push them past the early lead of the Blue Hose as Thornburg, Christmas, Radabaugh and Hunt all added to the Buc tally, but fell three short of the Blue Hose, for the final 16-13.

 The Buccaneers still have two games to take the win for the series as they face off with the Blue Hose in a double header scheduled for Saturday.  First pitch is slated for 11:30 a.m.  The day also marks the annual Building Buccaneer Baseball Cookout.  A BBQ lunch is only $7, and goes towards the continuing improvements of Buccaneer Ballpark and the CSU baseball team.