COLUMBIA, S.C. – Charleston Southern battled with South Carolina to a 5-3 final score on Tuesday night at Founders Park in the Bucs' final contest ahead of final exams.
 
The Gamecocks were able to get the early lead off a wild pitch in the bottom of the second. Each of the teams then continued to deal through the first six innings before either were able to scratch another across.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, South Carolina was able to tally four, pushing their lead to 5-0. They got them off a bases loaded walk, a two RBI single and a failed pickoff attempt.
 
Charleston Southern notched their first of the day in the top of the eighth. Lew Rice got the action started with a walk and moved to third following singles by Kain Collins and Kaden Smith. Rice and Collins were driven home on a single through the right side by Chandler Tuupo.
 
In the ninth, the Buccaneers continued to fight, tallying another run and cutting the deficit down to 5-3. Nathan Martinez led the inning off with a double to left field and advanced to third on a flyout. Blake Edgmon drove him home with a single to left center.
 
CSU used five pitchers during the contest. Brad Grindlinger had the start and tossed the first 2.0 innings. Ryan DuSang had the next 2.0 of work, striking out four batters without allowing a run. Tyler Henshaw had 2.1 with Kyle Lewis collecting 0.2 frames of work. Chris Foster tossed the eighth and retired each of the three batters he faced.
 
At the plate, Collins and Martinez each had a pair of hits to lead the team with Smith, Tuupo and Edgmon each adding one. Tuupo led the squad with two RBIs with Edgmon adding one. As a team, they finished with seven hits and four walks drawn.
 
Charleston Southern has a long layoff before their next game, which is Friday, May 9 against UNC Asheville. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. as the campus has graduation for the undergraduate students that evening on campus.