CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern baseball finished off the sweep of UNC Asheville to open the 2023 Big South campaign Sunday afternoon, again erasing an early deficit to take the 10-4 victory at Nielsen Field.

Charleston Southern (11-11) wasted no time getting on the board, finding three runs in the opening frame.Kieran Davis got things started with a double to right center, easily scoring Ike George. Chandler Tuupo then made some noise with a two-run shot off the top of the scoreboard in right center, traveling 411 feet and coming off the bat at 102 miles per hour.
 
The Citadel (13-7) was quick to answer, though, as they found two runs of their own in the same inning. The Bulldogs loaded the bases and took advantage of it with two singles, as Wells Sykes and Travis Elliott each had RBI-singles to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
 
Things would stay the same all the way until the sixth, as Charleston Southern would double its advantage with a JC Agard single to left to score Jaylin Rae. The Citadel would again answer in the next frame, taking the lead with a three-run seventh and would not look back.
 
The Bulldogs got things started in the seventh with a Reeves RBI-double before Sykes would score two on an RBI-single. The eighth would see The Citadel add one more as Travis Lott's single through the left side would be enough to Clay Wilson. Wilson's run would end up being the game-winner.
 
Charleston Southern would threaten in its final three outs as Kieran Davis made it a one-run game with a sacrifice fly to score George for the second time in the game. The Buccaneers brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth but were unable to complete the comeback effort.
 
Ryan Daugherty (L, 0-1) gets the loss for Charleston Southern after surrendering each of the three runs in the seventh. Ryan Gleason got the start and was charged with two earned runs on four hits in two frames while Eddie Olsen impressed with four scoreless frames, giving up just two hits in that body of work.
 
Will Holmes (W, 2-0) takes the win after coming on in the sixth and tossing two scoreless frames. George Derrick Floyd came on for the six-out save, his third save of the season.
 
UP NEXT
Charleston Southern stays on the road for its next series as it travels to Clinton to take on Big South foe Presbyterian. The three-game set is slated to start Friday, March 24 with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch and will span through Saturday (3:00 p.m.) and wrap up Sunday (1:00 p.m.).