Bucs fall to South Carolina, 3-0, in series finale

Brad Bissell had impressive 2004 debut

COLUMBIA, SC - The University of South Carolina scored a run in the bottom of the first and made it stick, defeating Charleston Southern, 3-0, to sweep a season-opening three-game series at Sarge Frye Field.

USC's Steven Pearce homered in the first and South Carolina added two runs in the eighth, and three Gamecock pitchers held CSU to only two hits in taking game three. USC out-scored CSU, 44-2, in the series with 38 runs coming in Saturday night's victory.

CSU starter Brad Bissell allowed just one run through seven innings, striking out eight, in his first start of the season. Bissell and game one starter R.J. Swindle, both left-handers, allowed just four runs in their combined 13 innings of work.

While pitching was a problem on Saturday, hitting was a problem throughout the series. CSU managed only 12 hits in three games, striking out 47 times. Junior centerfielder Jordan Haar and junior shortstop Billy Dalton combined for six hits in the series.

Charleston Southern returns to action next weekend, hosting Maryland on Friday afternoon in the 2004 home opener. The Bucs play Gardner-Webb on Saturday followed by a rare Sunday afternoon tilt against Marshall.