Bucs Set for BSC Showdown With Gardner-Webb

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Bucs will look to overcome their midweek troubles this weekend when they host the Runnin’ Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb in a three-game series starting Friday at CSU Ballpark.  The two teams will meet Friday, Saturday and Sunday with all games slated to start at 2 p.m.

GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS

SERIES HISTORY
The Charleston Southern Buccaneers welcome Big South opponent Gardner-Webb to town for a three-game conference series this weekend at CSU Ballpark. Friday’s contest will mark the 18th time the two programs have met on the diamond. CSU currently holds a 9-8 advantage in the overall series.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
05/27/2011    Gardner-Webb 5 CSU 0                  Gray-Minor Stadium, Lexington, Va.
04/10/2011    CSU 6 Gardner-Webb 3                  Moss Stadium
04/09/2011    CSU 5 Gardner-Webb 2                  Moss Stadium
04/08/2011    Gardner-Webb 11 CSU 0                Moss Stadium
04/24/2010    Gardner-Webb 5 CSU 4 (10 inn.)     CSU Ballpark

PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday
CSU: Junior RHP Ryan Gunther (0-6, 3.51 ERA, 48.2 IP, 10 BB, 35 K)
GWU: RHP Matt Fraudin (1-3, 2.83 ERA, 35.0 IP, 16 BB, 19 K)

Saturday
CSU: Senior LHP Charlie McCready (3-3, 3.40 ERA, 42.1 IP, 10 BB, 27 K)
GWU: RHP Conner Scarborough (2-4, 4.71 ERA, 42.0 IP, 16 BB, 29 K)

Sunday
CSU: Senior RHP Pat Dolan (2-3, 6.81 ERA, 35.2 IP, 24 BB, 28 K)
GWU: LHP Beau Hilton (4-0, 3.23 ERA, 39.0 IP, 16 BB, 23 K)

HAGAMAN IS BIG SOUTH PITCHER OF THE WEEK
CSU sophomore reliever Zach Hagaman had a week to remember last week for the Bucs. Hagaman made three relief appearances on the week, throwing five scoreless frames and fanning three batters, and in the process picked up three victories on the mound. The southpaw is now 4-0 on the year with a 2.25 ERA after another outing vs. UNCW this week in which he went 1.2 innings of shutout baseball.

RISING TO THE OCCASION
Conference play allows for a fresh start for everyone. Nobody has taken advantage of that more than junior college transfer John Faircloth. Thru the first three weekends of Big South play, the third baseman leads the Big South in conference-only batting average at .543 and also leads in total hits with 19. He is also tops in slugging percentage (.829) and ranks second in total bases (29) and on base percentage (.556). Faircloth also sits sixth in RBI with nine.

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD
The three-game set this weekend will be a reunion of sorts for two players at the ballpark. Charleston Southern’s Cody Austin and Gardner-Webb’s Jeff Howell are former teammates at Kings Mountain High School in Kings Mountain, N.C.

ON DECK
Charleston Southern will hit the field twice for mid-week contests next week. On Tuesday the Bucs take to the road as they travel to Clemson for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Wednesday afternoon CSU will return home as they host Savannah State at CSU Ballpark at 3:00 p.m.