CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern outfielder Bobby Ison batted 4-for-5 with four runs and three RBIs to help lead the Buccaneers to a 10-4 victory over Holy Cross in non-conference baseball action on Sunday afternoon at CSU Ballpark. With the win, Charleston Southern improves to 9-3 overall, while the Crusaders fall to 3-4 on the season.
Holy Cross pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to grab the early 2-0 lead. Crusader sophomore shortstop Nick Lovullo (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) scored the first run of the frame on an RBI-triple by junior outfielder Evan Ocello (Camarillo, Calif.). Ocello scored during the next at-bat on a single by senior outfielder Brandon Cipolla (Abington, Mass.) to make the score 2-0. The Buccaneers scored their first run of game in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Crusaders added to their lead in the top of the fifth. Cipolla plated senior second baseman Andrew Barry (Puyallup, Wash.) to make the score 3-1. During the next at-bat, junior designated hitter Jack St. Clair (Newton, Mass.) scored Cipolla on an RBI-single to give the Crusaders the 4-1 advantage.
The Buccaneers' offense erupted in the bottom of the fifth, as they pushed across six runs in the frame to grab the 7-4 lead. Charleston Southern added two runs in the sixth inning and one in the eighth to make the score its final, 10-4. The Crusaders tried to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth, as they had two runners on with one out, but the Buccaneers ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts to claim the victory.
Charleston Southern starting pitcher Andrew Tomasovich picked up the win (3-0), as he pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits, while striking out two batters. Holy Cross junior starting pitcher Donny Murray (Walpole, Mass.) was charged with the loss (1-1), as he surrendered seven earned runs over 4.2 innings pitched.
Ocello and Cipolla both led the Crusaders offensively with 3-for-5 performances at the dish. Cipolla had a pair of RBIs, while Ocello scored two runs. The Buccaneers outhit Holy Cross 13-9 in the contest.
The Crusaders and Buccaneers conclude their four-game series on Monday, March 3 at 2:00 p.m.
