CHARLESTON, S.C. - Home runs from Derek Smith and Brantley Meier were not enough for Charleston Southern on Wednesday, as the Buccaneers fell to Georgia Southern, 8-6, in non-conference action. CSU falls to 5-8 with the loss, while the Eagles improve to 6-7.

Patrick Dolan (0-1) started on the mound for the Buccaneers and took the loss after allowing five runs in four innings of work. Michael Hester (2-0) picked up the win for Georgia Southern after tossing three innings of relief and allowing just run, while Colin Snow earned his first save of the season after putting out Buccaneer fires in the 8th and 9th innings.

Smith was 2-for-3 for the Buccaneers, while Nick Chinners went 2-for-4. Meier was the only Buccaneer with multiple RBI on the day.

Georgia Southern scored without the benefit of a hit in the top of the 1st inning. Lead-off man Sean Payne reached on a walk and stole two bases before coming home on a throwing error by catcher Chinners, making the score 1-0 Eagles.

The Eagles again scored without a base hit in the 2nd. Dolan issued another lead-off walk, this one to Steve Cochrane, who advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter, Michael Burruss, reached on a fielder's choice when second baseman Jaren Sustar's double play throw to first sailed wide. The error allowed Cochrane to score and double the lead.

CSU crossed the scoring threshold in the bottom of the 2nd. With two out and no one on, Smith tattooed a ball over the left field wall. The home run, Smith's third in two days, made the CSU deficit 2-1.

Mistakes haunted the Buccaneers again in the 4th. Dolan plunked Eric Phillips to start the inning and then gave up a double to Burruss. Two batters later, a passed ball allowed Phillips to race home, restoring Georgia Southern's two-run lead.

GSU's first earned runs of the game came in the 5th. After Dolan allowed a lead-off single, Kyle Blackburn hammered a fastball for a two-run home run, making the score 5-1.

Charleston Southern got their first two batters on base in the bottom of the 5th inning, as Dolan singled and Walt Quattlebaum drew a walk. Sustar followed and placed a perfect bunt down the third base line. Starting pitcher Chris Beck fielded and airmailed the throw to first, allowing both base runners to score. Hester came on to pitch for the Eagles, and allowed Meier to bring the runner home on an RBI groundout, making the score 5-4.

Back-to-back singles set up Georgia Southern for another run in the 7th. A sacrifice fly from Cochrane brought Kevin Bowles home, making the score 6-4.

The Buccaneers got another run in the bottom of the inning. Meier drilled a solo home run to left, the first of his collegiate career, to again bring the Bucs within a run.

The Eagles were back in action in the 8th, getting their first two batters on via a single and a walk. A sacrifice bunt put both in scoring position, and an intentional walk of Kevin Bowles loaded the bases. A run came home when Blackburn was hit by a pitch, then A.J. Wirnsberger brought another home with a run-scoring groundout to increase the lead to 8-5.

CSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the 8th but could muster just one run. Quattlebaum plated a run with an RBI groundout, but Snow came on to fan Sustar looking, retiring the side and keeping the tally at 8-6.

The Buccaneers brought the winning run to the plate in the 9th after Chinners drew a walk and Tyler Thornburg singled, but Snow struck out Matt Still to end the game.

With the loss, the Buccaneers finish their current home stand with a 3-2 record, making it their first winning home stand of the 2010 season.

CSU heads to Gainesville, Fla. on Friday to start a three-game set with Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Georgia Southern opens Southern Conference play on Friday against Appalachian State.