Bucs Drop Home Matchup Against USC Upstate, 13-10

CHARLESTON, S.C. - A grand slam from sophomore third basemen Jaren Sustar was not enough to push the Bucs past USC Upstate, as the Spartans rallied to take the 13-10 victory. The Bucs fell short after giving up five runs in the 9th inning, and after leading by as many as five runs. The loss drops CSU’s record to 7-5 overall on the season, and despite the loss is still the best start through 12 games since 1993. 

Leading the Buccaneers in the losing effort was senior captain right fielder Tom Burkett. Burkett had his best day of the season at the plate going 4-for-4 with two RBI. The aforementioned Sustar also had a nice outing, his grand slam in the second inning was his first home run and gave the Bucs the lead 4-1. 

CSU would add two more runs in the third with runs driven in by Matt Still and Burkett, pushing their lead to 6-1. 

Upstate would manufacture a run in the fourth, and two runs in the fifth, narrowing the margin to 6-4. CSU would respond with a run when Burkett doubled down the left field line to score Alex Tomasovich from third base in the bottom of the fifth to push the lead to 7-4.

The Spartans would plate another runner in the sixth making the score 7-5.

In the eighth inning Charleston Southern would score another run after Burkett got on base after being hit by a pitch, he then stole second. He was then driven in when Drew Woodall singled to left center.

Upstate would close out today’s game with two big innings in both the top of the eighth and ninth. They plated three runs in the eighth and five runs in the ninth inning. The five runs allowed was the most runs the Bucs have allowed in an inning this season. 

With the Upstate lead at 13-9, the Buccaneers would score a run in the bottom of the ninth when Sustar singled into right center to narrow the deficit to three runs. Charleston Southern would then load the bases and bring the go ahead run to the plate with two outs, but a strike out would end the game.

Charleston Southern returns to action this Friday when they will have a weekend four-game series against Fordham. First pitch on Friday is slated for 3 p.m.