Saturday, May 07, 2005

CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 7, 2005) - East Tennessee State scored three runs in the top of the tenth inning to defeat The Citadel, 8-5, Saturday night from Riley Park in Charleston, S.C. The Buccaneer win evens the Southern Conference weekend series between the Bucs and Bulldogs at one win each.

            For the second-straight evening, the Bucs (27-16, 12-13 SoCon) took the first lead, scoring a run in the top of the third. Sophomore designated hitter Mike Giroud (St. Petersburg, Fla.) singled through the left side to lead off the inning, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior left fielder Steven Calicutt (Spartanburg, S.C.). Junior shortstop Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.) then laced a double down the right-field line, scoring Giroud.

            The Citadel (17-30, 8-15 SoCon) took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Chris Ard led off the frame with a double to left-center and Chris Swauger followed with an RBI double down the left field line. Swauger later scored on a single by Zach Brown. The Bulldogs had the bases loaded with one out, but could not score any more runs as Buccaneer starter Jeremy Hall (Gray, Tenn.) struck out the next two batters.

            Hall's heroics proved to be important as the Bucs scored three runs in the top of the seventh to regain the lead. With one out, Hargis singled up the middle and junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) walked. Senior catcher Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.) then belted a double to the gap in left-center to score both runners. Later in the inning, junior first baseman Blake Church (Roswell, Ga.) hit a two-out double to right field to score Moore from second.

            The Bulldogs cut ETSU's lead to 4-3 as Josh Stackley hit an RBI groundout in the bottom of the eighth, scoring Brown.

            East Tennessee State added another run to their lead in the top of the ninth. Byrne singled to lead off the inning and scored on a one-out double by sophomore centerfielder Stephen Douglas (Kennesaw, Ga.).

            The Citadel tied the game with a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game to extra innings. Jon Aughey drove in Matt Covington with a sacrifice fly and Brown hit a bloop single with two outs, scoring Chris Ard.

            But the Bucs put the game away with a three-run, two-out rally in the 10^th. With one out in the frame, sophomore catcher John Weddle (Knoxville, Tenn.) walked then stole second. With two outs, Hargis singled up the middle to bring home Weddle. Byrne then hit an RBI double down the right field line and Douglas followed with an RBI double to left-center.

            Moore retired the Bulldogs in the bottom of the ninth to earn his sixth win of the season (6-1). He pitched the final three innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out two. Hall was excellent on the mound but was not involved in the decision, pitching the first seven innings, giving up two runs on eight hits and striking out four.

            Link Saunders was charged with the loss for The Citadel, allowing three runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of work.

            Hargis and Byrne led the Bucs at the plate, both with three hits and two runs scored on the evening. Hargis, Moore and Douglas all drove in two runs in the win.

            Ard, Swauger and Brown each had two hits in the loss for The Citadel while Brown led the Bulldogs with two RBIs.               

            East Tennessee State and The Citadel play the decisive game of their three-game weekend series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. from Riley Park in Charleston, S.C.