Markham, multiple Buc bats power CSU to 18-4 victory over Gardner-Webb

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Anthony Markham pitched seven scoreless innings and five different members of the Charleston Southern baseball team recorded multiple hits as the Buccaneers defeated Gardner-Webb University 18-4 Friday afternoon at CSU Ballpark.

CSU (17-24, 6-9 Big South Conference) blasted a season-high 20 hits, while allowing just 10 to the Runnin’ Bulldogs (17-20, 5-8 Big South). Each team committed an error.

All but two batters that stepped up to the plate for Charleston Southern picked up a hit, and all but one scored.

The 20 hits were the most since a 21-4 victory over High Point University April 11, 2009. That game was also the last time CSU scored at least 18 runs, and the last time Markham picked up a victory from the mound.

Markham (1-4) scattered just eight hits in his seven innings of work, and allowed only two base runners via the walk. He also struck out two and was able to get out of trouble on numerous occasions.

CSU got started quickly after Markham shut down the Bulldogs in the first frame. Brantley Meier led off the home half of the first with a single, and Tom Burkett hit his sixth home run of the season to give the Buccaneers a 2-0 lead.

Drew Woodall hit a single to left field as Charleston Southern was preparing to pump out four more in the second. Bentley Christmas doubled to left field, and Jon Matthews brought them both home with a two-run single. Nick Chinners blasted a two-run double to right field to plate Matthews and Meier to give the home team the 6-0 advantage through just two frames.

After two scoreless innings on each side, CSU erupted for four more in the home half of the fifth. Matt Still led off the frame with a four-pitch walk, and Brandon McKinney sacrificed Still to second to put a runner in scoring position. Woodall flew out to right, but Christmas walked to put two aboard with two out.

The two base-runners advanced 90 feet after a wild pitch, and they each scored on a single through the left side by Meier. Burkett followed that up with another two-run hit, this time a single up the middle to score both Meier and Matthews.

Derek Smith led off the sixth with his sixth home run of the year, and his second-straight pinch-hit round-tripper added one more insurance run. He also went yard in pinch-hit duty against Florida State April 21.

Markham left with an 11-0 lead after seven innings, and Tim Flight entered in the eighth to relieve the dominant starter. Flight looked uncomfortable despite coming into the game with a double-digit cushion, and he was unable to record an out. He allowed four runs (two earned) on just one hit, while walking three.

He walked Jake Watts to lead off the eighth, and Kurt Fulginiti reached on an error by Walt Quattlebaum, who had just entered the game to play third base. John Harris drove home Watts with a single, and Fulginiti scored on a balk by Flight. Harris and Stefan Morris each scored on wild pitches later in the inning.

Charleston Southern responded with its highest-scoring inning of the season, as the home team lit up the scoreboard with seven runs in the bottom of the eighth.

After Chinners and Smith led off the inning with back-to-back singles, Quattlebaum stepped up and blasted his second-career home run to plate all three batters. The three runs batted in for Quattlebaum were a career-high in his 1-for-1 performance.

McKinney doubled and Christmas singled to put two more aboard at the corners. Meier walked to load the bases, and Harrison Wilkins stepped up and recorded his first-career RBI as he drove home McKinney with a single through the right side. Burkett recorded his fifth RBI of the day with a fielder’s choice, and he would later score on a wild pitch.

Patrick Dolan shut the door on the Bulldogs in the ninth to give CSU the 18-4 victory. He threw the final two innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. He also struck out three in his relief effort.

Chinners was 4-for-5 and tied his career high with four hits. He drove home three and scored once. Burkett was 2-for-5 and had five RBI, and Meier was 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs. Meier tied his career-high marks in both runs and runs batted in.

McKinney and Christmas each tied their career highs with three hits. McKinney initially set his mark in the first game against Presbyterian College April 16, and Christmas recorded his first-career three-hit game in the series finale with the Blue Hose two days later.

Christmas also scored a career-high three runs. Tyler Thornburg went 0-for-3 and was the only Buccaneer batter who failed to score a run.

Watts led Gardner-Webb with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Harris picked up the lone RBI for GWU and four different Bulldogs scored.

Brett Stackhouse (1-3) took the mound and gave up eight runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. Matt Liedberg allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits in 1 1/3 innings, and Josh White gave up five runs on six hits in 1 1/3 innings. Alex McMahan recorded the final two outs, but not before allowing two runs and two hits. 

The Buccaneers and Bulldogs will finish the series with a doubleheader beginning at 11:30 a.m. April 24. The first game is scheduled to pit two right-handers in Tyler Thornburg (5-2, 4.50) and GWU’s Conner Scarborough (1-4, 7.68).

Left-hander Andrew White (1-3, 6.00) is slated to throw the second game of the double-dip, and Gardner-Webb will counter with righty Brock Wilson (4-2, 4.97).