MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – College of Charleston evened the series against Campbell on Saturday afternoon with a come-from-behind 6-5 win at Patriots Point.
 
Trailing by two, the Cougars (15-10, 3-2 CAA) scored three runs, all with two outs, in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Camels (12-14, 3-2).
 
The teams exchanged unearned runs to get on the board early in the game. Charleston struck first with a score from Dariyan Pendergrass in the bottom of the first after he scored from second on a ground ball throwing error by the Campbell infield.
 
The Camels answered quickly in the top of the second. Charlie Meglio advanced from first to third on an errant pickoff attempt, and he subsequently scored on an RBI single from Joe Simpson.
 
Meglio led the team with three hits on the day, and four different Camels recorded an RBI. Pendergrass also had three hits for Charleston, and he led his squad with two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Each starting pitcher provided solid outings for their team. Mason Smith started for Campbell, and he went 5.1 innings and allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) with four strikeouts. Daniel Brooks threw 6.0 innings for CofC with five hits, two runs (one earned) and six strikeouts.
 
Evans Hendricks provided 2.1 innings out of the bullpen but was credited with the loss for being responsible for the go-ahead run. His record is now 1-2.
 
Kevin Samonsky was awarded the win for Charleston, moving his record to 1-1. Davis Aiken pitched the ninth inning and earned his fourth save of the season.
 
CofC retook the lead with one run in the bottom of the second. Payton Frehner laced a double to the wall in left center, and Alex LaCoste scored from first base on the play.
 
Right fielder Lukas Schramm tied the game with a solo home run over the wall in left in the top of the fourth inning. The knock was his second home run of the season.
 
The Cougars took a one-run lead once again in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single off the bat of Landon Penfield to score Pendergrass.
 
Hendricks replaced Smith with one out in the bottom of the sixth. He allowed two baserunners but struck out Cougar leadoff hitter Avery Neaves to erase the danger.
 
CU took its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh inning. Meglio and Simpson hit back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, facing new pitcher Hayden Thomas. The runners then advanced on a sac bunt from Darnell Parker Jr.
 
Thomas then hit Dalen Thompson to load the bases with one out. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Jackson Thompson squared to bunt on a suicide squeeze play as Meglio left third on the pitch. Thompson did not make contact, but the pitch was in the dirt and got away from the Charleston catcher, allowing Meglio to score safely and tie the game.
 
Thompson concluded his nine-pitch at-bat with a sac fly to left field, bringing home Simpson and putting the Camels ahead, 4-3.
 
Meglio added one run in the top of the eighth with an RBI double down the left field line to score Schramm and extend the lead to two.
 
The Cougars answered with a three-spot in the bottom of the frame to take back the lead, 6-5. Hendricks got outs from the first two batters before a single and a walk started the rally.
 
Neaves came up to bat next and worked a 3-0 count before Bryce Schares replaced Hendricks on the mound. Schares completed the walk with his first pitch, and Pendergrass sent the first pitch of his at-bat to left for a two-RBI double.
 
The Camels threatened to tie in the top of the ninth but came up empty. Parker Jr. led off the inning with a single into center then advanced to second on a wild pitch. A flyout to center from D. Thompson moved Parker to third with one out.
 
The next batter, J. Thompson, hit a ground ball towards the first baseman. Parker Jr. attempted to score on the play but was tagged out at the plate. Andrew Schuldt worked a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs, but Morton sent a fly ball a few feet short of the warning track in left for the final out of the game.
 
UP NEXT
The teams conclude their series tomorrow at 1:00 at Patriots Point. The Rubber Match will be available to stream live on FloCollege.  
 
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