Bucs hold off UNC Asheville, 7-6

Bissell picked up first win of season

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Senior left-hander Brad Bissell picked up his first win of the season as Charleston Southern held off a late rally to defeat UNC Asheville, 7-6, in Big South Conference baseball action on Friday.

CSU improves to 9-9 overall and 1-3 in league play while the Bulldogs drop to 4-7 overall, 0-1 in conference play.

Bissell (1-2) allowed nine hits and one earned run in 7 1/3 innings before leaving the game in the eighth. CSU led 7-2 heading into the ninth before the Bulldogs rallied with four runs.

Freshman catcher Keith Stewart went four-for-four at the plate while shortstop Billy Dalton and third baseman Brad Woods had three hits each to pace the Buccaneers. First baseman Graham Maiden added a three-run homerun, his first of the season.

CSU led 4-1 after three innings before UNCA scored a run in the seventh to cut the lead to 4-2. CSU answered with a run in the seventh and two runs in the eighth for a 7-2 lead.

UNCA scored four runs in the ninth, three on a homerun by Charles Pippitt. Evan Dawson had three hits and Ben Kerr had two hits to pace the Bulldogs.

UNCA starter Curtis Glover took the loss, allowing four runs on 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings.

The two teams meet in a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m.