Bucs pound UNC Asheville, 16-0; take two of three in series

Bissell scattered five hits in shutout victory

ASHEVILLE, NC - Charleston Southern's baseball team enjoyed one of their best offensive days of the season, scoring 16 runs on 13 hits and defeating UNC Asheville, 16-0, in the final game of a three-game Big South Conference series.

CSU improves to 15-17 overall and 4-2 in the Big South, taking two of three games in the series. The Buccaneers have won four of their last six games.

The heroes were many for the Buccaneers, who led 2-0 after four innings before a five-run explosion in the fifth inning. CSU added two runs in the sixth and put the game away with a five-run seventh.

Junior Michael Blankenship belted a three-run homerun and junior Jesse Oliver added a two-run homer and triple for the Bucs. Junior Brian Sole had three RBIs as well and catcher Scotty Thacker went four-for-five with two RBIs. First baseman Graham Maiden added a hit and two RBIs.

Charleston Southern outscored the Bulldogs, 33-10, in the series, allowing eight of those runs in game two.

Junior Brad Bissell was the beneficiary of the runs but only needed one. Bissell scattered five hits over nine shutout innings, striking out eight to improve to 4-5 on the season.

Charleston Southern is currently 3-2 on its nine-game road trip and will play at The Citadel on Wednesday night. The Bucs resume conference play next weekend at Birmingham Southern.