Bucs blast Bulldogs in home finale, 11-0

Keith Stewart drove in six runs in victory

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Freshman catcher Keith Stewart broke open a close game with a three-run seventh inning homerun and the Charleston Southern Buccaneers rolled to an 11-0 victory over The Citadel at Buccaneer Field on Tuesday afternoon.

Stewart finished the day with three hits and six RBI as the Buccaneers capped off their home schedule with their third win over the Bulldogs in four games this season.

Charleston Southern improves to 23-21 with the win while the Bulldogs fall to 16-28 on the year.

Charleston Southern has now won six of the last eight meetings with their crosstown rivals, who had dominated the overall series before last season.

CSU scored an unearned run in the second and led 1-0 heading into the seventh before Citadel starter Griff Beckham ran into trouble. Beckham, who allowed just two hits in the first six innings, hit Jordan Haar with one out. He followed that with a walk to Graham Maiden before Stewart belted a 3-2 pitch to dead center for a 405-foot homerun.

The Buccaneers blew the game wide open in the eighth, scoring seven times on seven hits with senior outfielder Brian Sole picking up a pair of hits in the inning. Stewart again delivered the big blow, delivering a three-run double to right center.

Ryan Sowers (7-2) earned the win, tossing two scoreless innings. All total, six CSU pitchers limited the Bulldogs to three hits and walked only two.

Beckham (2-6) took the loss despite his best outing of the season. Beckham struck out six and allowed three hits in 6 1/3 innings.

For Charleston Southern, Haar, Sole, shortstop Billy Dalton and outfielder Jay Reynolds had two hits each while Stewart finished with three.

CSU returns to action on Friday night at Coastal Carolina while The Citadel hosts East Tennessee State.