CHARLESTON, S.C. – Baseball continued their impressive start to the season with an 11-4 victory over Delaware State on Saturday to move to 2-0 on the season. This marks the team's first 2-0 start to a year since the 2015 season where they 4-0.
Anthony Ramirez picked up the victory in his first D1 appearance coming on in relief during the fourth and allowing just one run over his five innings of work.
The Buccaneers never trailed in the game as they quickly were able to jump on top by scoring in the bottom of the first off a double from
Dakota Miller that brought
Christian Bauman and
Peter Werth home. In the second,
Alex Diaz hit an RBI double of his own that scored
Alex Urlaub to put CSU ahead 3-0.
In the top of the second,
Brett Gastman loaded up the bases to start the inning and was able to work out of that jam. He struck out the next two batters and got the third out by a flyout to center. He couldn't keep them off the board for long as the Hornets were able to score three in the third and bring it even at three apiece.
The Buccaneers offense was able to immediately respond, scoring one run in the third and another in the fourth to get back ahead.
Evann Long's sac fly in the third scored
Aidan McAskie to provide the go-ahead run.
Charleston Southern turned to Ramirez in the top of the fourth to work through the middle innings. Gastman finished the day with three innings pitched, four hits allowed while striking out six batters. Ramirez was unfazed in his first D1 appearance, as ended up pitching the next five innings for the Bucs. He allowed just one run and one hit to neutralize the Delaware State offense and pick up the win.
While Ramirez was on the mound, the Bucs scored four in the sixth inning and brought another two runners home in the eighth to put it completely out of reach for the visitors.
Joel Rodriguez came to the mound for the ninth to finish off the victory. He retired the side in his first appearance with the Buccaneers as well.
Charleston Southern had 13 hits on the day and drew eight walks with five players having two hits each.
Cade Conway, Miller, Long,
Alex Urlaub and Diaz each had them. Urlaub and Diaz all reached base three times as they all drew a walk as well.
The Buccaneers will be back in Nielsen Field at CSU Ballpark for the series finale with Delaware State tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Matt Gallant, a freshman left-handed pitcher is expected to get the start on the mound with his debut eagerly awaited by those within the Bucs' clubhouse.
