CHARLESTON – The Buccaneers clinched the series over Manhattan on Saturday, putting the run rule in play for the second time in two games. Charleston Southern cruised to the 18-1 victory over the Jaspers in front of a lively crowd at Nielsen Field @ CSU Ballpark and continue their hot start to the Karl Kuhn era.
 
With today's result, the Bucs now move to 5-1 on the season, becoming their best six-game start to a year since the 2014 spring when they were 6-1, sweeping each of their first two weekends. This is just the sixth time in program history that they have been 5-1 or better to begin a season.
 
After a mammoth of an offensive day on Friday night, Charleston Southern did not skip a beat going into today's game. They tallied six runs in the second and third innings and five in the fourth, and another in the 5^th to reach 18 runs and cap off the scoring on the day.
 
The second inning featured home runs by AJ Martin and Kaden Smith as all nine players had an at bat during the inning. Martin's solo home run got the inning started off and was followed by an Aidan McAskie single and Nathan Martinez double. Lucas Pringle had an RBI groundout and Jack Mausser grounded out as well. After that, the next four runners reached with Blake Edgmon's double scoring Martinez. Anthony Sanguedolce then drew a walk to have a pair of runners on base. Kaden Smith cleared the bases with a three-run, home run to center and conclude the first six-spot of the day.
 
In the top of the third, Manhattan scored their lone run of the day on an error in right field.
 
In bottom of it, Martin led it off again and this time doubled to left center. Martinez drew a walk and Pringle was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Mausser drilled a single down the line in left field to score a pair and Edgmon was walked to reload the basepaths. Sanguedolce scored a run as he reached on an error by the shortstop trying to turn a double play. The runners then moved up a base on a wild pitch to score another before Smith drew a walk during the plate appearance. Chandler Tuupo then drove in a pair on a double to center field to put CSU ahead 12-1 through three.
 
In the fourth, each of the runs were scored one at a time. Sanguedolce drew a walk with bases loaded and Smith had a single to center to score the 14^th. Tuupo had an RBI groundout and Martin got to first off an error that tallied the next across the plate. A wild pitch was the final way that scored a run in the frame.
 
In the bottom of the 5^th, the Bucs switched out their lineup, allowing for Brandon Phillips and Johann Rodriguez to collect a single each. Kain Collins scored Phillips later in the inning of a double to left to score the 18^th and final Buccaneer run of the afternoon.
 
Joel Rodriguez had the start and earned the victory in his appearance. He tossed 5.0 frames without allowing an earned run during his time on the bump, with nine of his outs recorded coming by groundouts. Camden Chalfant and Brett Gastman threw a scoreless 6^th and 7^th as each allowed one hit and Gastman picked up two strikeouts.   
 
Smith and Martin had two hits apiece in the game to lead the squad in the category as they compiled 12 on the afternoon. Smith and Sanguedolce each scored three times as well. Smith had the team-high in RBIs with four while Tuupo and Mausser were the others with multiple in the statistic with three and two, respectively. The Bucs drew nine walks as a team with Smith, Martinez, Edgmon and Sanguedolce each having two.
 
Charleston Southern looks to close out their first weekend series sweep of 2025 tomorrow afternoon as they will take on the Manhattan Jaspers for the third time. The first pitch is scheduled for noon at Nielsen Field @ CSU Ballpark.