Sunday, May 08, 2005

CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 8, 2005) - East Tennessee State scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning, but The Citadel responded by scoring 19 consecutive runs en route to a 19-11 victory over the Bucs Sunday afternoon from Riley Park in Charleston, S.C.

            ETSU's (27-16, 12-14 SoCon) huge first inning began as the first eight players reached base safely. Before an out was recorded, junior first baseman Blake Church (Roswell, Ga.) hit a two-run double, junior second baseman Greg Roberts (Douglas, Ga.) hit an RBI single and freshman third baseman Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.) drove in two runs with a single. With one out in the frame, junior shortstop Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.) walked to force in a run and junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) followed by belting a grand slam over the left field wall.

            From that point, the Bulldog offense erupted for 18 runs over the next six innings. The Citadel scored two runs in the first, two runs in the second, and three in the third before plating five in the fourth to take the lead, 12-10.

            In the fourth, Matt Covington hit an RBI single and Jon Aughey drove in three runs with a double. Aughey later crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

            The Citadel (18-30, 9-15 SoCon) then scored three runs in the fifth, three more in the sixth and one in the eighth to put the game away.

            East Tennessee State scored their final run in the top of the ninth on an RBI double by Hargis.

            Evan Burgess (1-0) earned the win for The Citadel, allowing just one hit in 2.2 innings of relief. Junior lefty Brian Lovett (Knoxville, Tenn.) was charged with the loss (3-4), allowing five runs (one earned) on three hits in two innings of work. Lovett also walked one and struck out three.

            Byrne, Douglas and Roberts each had two hits for the Bucs. Byrne led the Bucs with four RBIs while he and Hargis each scored two runs in the loss.

            Chris Ard had a huge game for the Bulldogs, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and four runs scored. Covington scored four runs while driving in three and Aughey had a game-high five RBIs.

            The Bucs return to the diamond Tuesday night at 7 p.m. as they travel Cookeville, Tenn. to face in-state rival Tennessee Tech.