Box Score March 11, 2011
Box Score
Charleston, S.C. -
Charleston Southern's Nick Chinners drove in three runs, including the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh, as the Buccaneers edged the Fordham Rams, 4-3, in the opening contest of a four-game series at CSU Ballpark in Charleston, South Carolina.
With the loss, Fordham drops to 9-3 overall, while Charleston Southern improves to 8-5.
Fordham opened the scoring the top of the first inning without registering a hit. Nick Martinez opened the game by reaching first on catcher's interference, and went to second on an errant pickoff throw. After moving to third on a groundout, Martinez would score on a ground out by Ryan Lee.
Charleston Southern scored twice in the third to grab a 2-1 lead, as Brandon McKinney and Brantley Meier reached on back-to-back infield singles. After a sacrifice bunt, Nick Chinners recorded an RBI-ground out, scoring McKinney, while Derek Smith knocked in Meier with a single up the middle.
Fordham then knotted the game at two in the fourth with a single run, as Joe Russo doubled with one out, and scored one play later, as Chris Walker drove him in with a ground ball.
The Rams then regained the lead at 3-2, as Martinez connected for a solo home run, his second of the season.
The Buccaneers then tied the game with a single run in the bottom of the frame, on an RBI-single by Chinners to score Meier, who walked and reached second on a sacrifice.
Charleston Southern then scratched across a run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 4-3 edge. McKinney and Meier once again reached base on back-to-back infield singles. After a sacrifice, Fordham reliever Tim Swatek came in for starter Brian Pendergast. Swatek would give up a sacrifice fly to Chinners, scoring McKinney from third.
The Rams attempted to answer back in the top of the eighth, as Russo doubled with one out, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Russo however would be gunned down at the plate on Walker's ground ball to short, cutting the Rams' rally off.
Fordham held the Buccaneers scoreless in the eighth, and faced CSU's closer Corey Deighan in the ninth. Ryan David gave the Rams a chance, reaching on an infield single to open the inning. After a pair of outs, Martinez kept the Rams alive with an infield single to third, moving David to second. Deighan though would get Brian Kownacki to foul out to right to end the game.
For Fordham, Pendergast (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits in 6.1 innings, while Swatek pitched the final 1.2 innings.
At the plate, Martinez was 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored, while Russo was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles. David also had a pair of hits for the Rams.
Charleston Southern's Stew Brase (2-1) recorded the win, allowing one earned run on six hits with five strikeouts. Deighan posted his fifth save of the season, as he pitched a scoreless ninth.
Game two of this series is set for Saturday at 2:00 PM.
