Cougars overpower Bucs; gain sweep with 4 homers

C of C 13, CSU 4

The College of Charleston has already established a school record for home runs in a season, but the Cougars seem intent on pushing the standard to dizzying heights.

The Cougars belted four homers Wednesday night in a 13-4 victory over Charleston Southern, running their season total to 98 and giving them a four-game sweep over the Bucs in their season series.

"I thought we put some really good swings on it today," said Charleston coach John Pawlowski, whose team has seven more regular season games remaining. "I thought the difference was we did a really good job offensively and I was encouraged by what I saw. The season is winding down quickly and every game becomes so important."

Charleston, which entered the game leading the nation with 10.5 runs per game, have now scored 10 or more runs 21 times this season.

The Cougars (31-17) got a solo homer from Michael Kohn in the second inning, a three-run homer from Brandon Sizemore and a solo homer from Michael Harrington in the third and a two-run homer from Austin Morgan in the sixth.

Harrington added to his school-record single-season total and now has 19. Sizemore's homer was his 14th. Charleston finished with 14 hits and every Cougar in the starting lineup managed at least one hit.

Casey Lucchese (5-2) got the victory, working five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with five walks and seven strikeouts. Danny Meszaros, Nick Osterman and Kohn finished up for the Cougars.

Charleston Southern (16-29) couldn't keep pace with the Cougars' home run barrage, but designated hitter Derek Smith did belt a towering solo homer to dead center in a two-run fourth for the Bucs.

"We used some young pitchers and when you've got freshmen going out there trying to compete against a veteran team, it's difficult," said Charleston Southern Coach Jason Murray. "But it was a good experience for them. They learned a little bit about pitching against great hitters and trying to get them out."

Wednesday night's victory marks the first time Charleston has won four games over the Bucs in a season.

The Cougars beat the Bucs 12-4 on March 5, 5-2 on April 1, and 4-2 on April 16.

Charleston returns to Southern Conference play at 7 p.m. Friday when the Cougars play host to Wofford in the first game of a three-game series.

The Bucs begin a three-game Big South series at UNC Asheville on Friday.

Reach Charles Bennett at cbennett@postandcourier.com.