Buc To Compete in First Pitch Invitational

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The CSU baseball team will head out on its first road trip of the season on Friday when they head to Greenville, S.C., to take part in the First Pitch Invitational, hosted by Clemson.  The Bucs will face Michigan State on Friday at 7 p.m. at Flour Field in Greenville.  On Saturday, they will travel to Clemson to play the Tigers in a 1 p.m. game before returning to Greenville to face Cincinnati at Flour Field at 7 p.m.

CSU vs. Michigan State
The Bucs will meet the Spartans of Michigan State for the fourth time in 2011, and will look to pick up their first win of the series.  MSU has won all three prior meetings, which took place at CSU Ballpark in 2002. 

CSU vs. Clemson
The Bucs have a longer history with in-state foe Clemson, whom they have faced 13 times prior to this weekend’s meeting at the First Pitch Tournament.  The Tigers have won all 13 contests, but have not faced each other since 2003 when Clemson edged the Bucs 3-2 in Clemson, S.C.

CSU vs. Cincinnati
Charleston Southern will face the Big East’s Cincinnati for just the second time in the school’s history on Saturday.  The Bucs fell to the Bearcats back in 1999. 

Smith, Chinners Hit First Home Runs of the Season
Nick Chinners hit a two-run homer to mark the first CSU home run of the season.  Soon after, Derek Smith blasted solo home run as well.   The UNF series marks the first time since May 9, 2010 that the Bucs have gone more than two games without a home run. 

Bucs in the Big South
The Bucs have gotten off to a good start in the early Big South rankings, coming in fourth in team pitching (4.25 ERA) and fifth in team batting (.293).  Walt Quattlebaum ranks third; batting .538 so far, while Stew Brase is sixth in pitching with an ERA of 1.69. 

Chinners Closing In
Senior first baseman Nick Chinners is coming close to entering the school record books.  The captain needs just two doubles to enter the school’s all-time list for career doubles.  With one double vs. UNF, Chinners now has 39 in his career and needs just two to tie for fourth in school history. 

Game Links

Game Notes | Clemson Live Stats