CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston Southern Buccaneers lost to the Fordham Rams in the last game of a four game series after 12 innings at a score of 10-7. Charleston Southern suffered the loss in disappointing fashion after leading by four runs in the fifth and three runs in the ninth. The loss drops the Bucs' record to 9-7 on the season.

Getting his first start of the season for CSU was junior right handed pitcher Ali Williams. He pitched four scoreless innings, and had given up only two hits coming into the fifth.

Pitching extremely well in relief was left hander Charlie McCready. He would get 3.2 innings of work, and allow only one hit.

Having another big day for the Bucs at the plate was senior designated hitter Derek Smith. He went 3-for-5 on the day with 3 RBI, including a two run homer, which was his fifth of the young season.

CSU would get on the board in the first when a ground ball fielder's choice would bring Brantley Meier home for the 1-0 lead in the first inning.

After a contentious sequence at first base in which both skippers argued a call that was ultimately changed in the Buccaneer's favor, CSU's Smith would step up in the batter's box and hit is fifth home run of the season. The two run shot with two outs gave the Bucs a 3-0 lead, but the circumstance seemed to be a rallying point for the opposition.

The Bucs would again bolster their lead in the fourth inning when another grounder this time from Brandon Mckinney would score a Blake Hunt from third base, making the score 4-0.

Fordham would get a huge inning in the fifth, logging four consecutive hits and plating two runs before the Bucs could record the first out of the inning. They scored four runs in that inning bringing the game back to level terms at a score of 4-4.

Smith would again come up big for CSU. He singled with a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth for the Bucs to retake the lead 5-4.

McCready pitched in relief and logged three consecutive scoreless innings for Charleston Southern in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Going into the ninth the Bucs held a three run lead at 7-4, but the Rams would plate three runs on three hits before they had incurred their first out. The Rams would go on to hold the Bucs scoreless in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.

In extra innings neither team would score until Fordham in the top of the twelfth. An inning in which would score three runs to take the lead 10-7.

In the bottom of the twelfth, the Rams would record the final out of the marathon affair with two Bucs on base and the tying run a the plate.

The Buccaneers will travel to Savannah, Ga., where they will face the Tigers of Savannah State tomorrow for the second time this season. First-pitch for that game is slated for 2 p.m.