April 20, 2007

Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -- Graham Maiden belted a first inning grand slam and Nick Chigges hurled eight strong innings to propel nationally 30th-ranked College of Charleston to a 12-3 Southern Conference series opening win over Furman Friday night at Patriots Point Field.

Maiden's slam to right field off with one out highlighted a five-run first inning for the College of Charleston (30-9, 11-2 SoCon), which cruised behind the strong arm of Chigges (7-0), who allowed only five hits and three runs, including one earned. He struck out eight and walked two.

Furman (11-27, 6-10 SoCon) managed only six hits in the contest.

Freshman Marc DeDecker (1-3), making his first start in conference play and only the second start of his young career, took the loss after yielding eight runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out three.

After College of Charleston's five-run first inning, Furman came back to plate two unearned runs in the second to make it 5-2. Jay Jackson doubled to lead off and came around to score on back-to-back errors by Chigges. Spence Gibbs later added a sacrifice fly to score the Paladins' second run of the frame.

The Cougars quickly answered by using three hits and a wild pitch to plate three runs in the second to stretch the advantage to 8-2.

College of Charleston tacked on runs in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings against Paladin relievers Will Feemster and Blaine Hart.

Stuart Haywood and Chris Campbell had three hits apiece to top CofC's 15-hit attack. Ben Lasater went 2-for-4 and also homered for the Cougars.

The two teams play game two of the series Saturday beginning at 6:00 p.m.