CHARLESTON, S.C. - Tyler Thornburg put the Charleston Southern baseball team on the board with his first home run of 2010, but the Buccaneers allowed late runs to fall 9-5 to Virginia Commonwealth University in Game Two of the season-opening series at CSU Ballpark.

Thornburg's bomb was part of a four-run second inning that put Charleston Southern ahead 4-1. Brandon McKinney drove in Tom Burkett on a double to right center and McKinney would later score on a balk.

VCU tied the game with two runs in the fifth and an additional run in the sixth, but Walt Quattlebaum scored off a Brantley Meier double and CSU regained a 5-4 advantage after six innings.

After a clean seventh for the Buccaneers, the Rams touched up the CSU pitching for five total runs in the final two innings to earn the 9-5 victory. VCU collected 17 hits to just 10 for Charleston Southern.

Meier and Burkett each recorded two hits, and Thornburg led CSU with two runs batted in, both coming on his home run. Meier and McKinney each drove in a run.

Nick Chinners, Thornburg, Burkett, McKinney and Quattlebaum all scored for Charleston Southern.

Charlie McCready took the mound for the Bucs and earned a no-decision after lasting 4.2 innings and allowing three unearned runs off seven hits. He struck out five and walked just one.

Jesse Cadenhead (0-1) relieved McCready and lasted 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He also struck out five and walked one.

Corey Deighan pitched 0.2 innings and allowed only one hit. Patrick Dolan threw the last inning and allowed two runs (one unearned) off two hits, while striking out three.

Richard Gonzalez and Paul Nice both finished the game 4-for-5 for VCU, and they both recorded two runs batted in. Gregory Fujii went 3-for-6 and scored three runs. Joe Van Meter and Taylor Perkins each collected two hits and combined for three RBI and two runs.

Blake Hauser took the mound for the Rams and lasted 4.0 innings. He allowed four earned runs off six hits, while striking out eight and walking one. Aaron Morgan (1-0) earned the win after relieving Hauser. He lasted 3.0 innings and gave up just one run on three hits, while striking out three and walking one. Robbie Andrews earned the save after pitching the final 2.0 innings. He collected three strikeouts and allowed just one hit.

Charleston Southern will look to pick up its first win of the season in the final game of the series at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at CSU Ballpark.