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Sports

Cougars Even Series with a Gem from Powell

Powell Throws Seven Shutout Innings, Cougars Even Series At Georgia Southern.

STATESBORO, Ga. — College of Charleston starter Christian Powell threw a gem and the Cougars evened the series with Georgia Southern by winning 4-1 on Saturday night.

The Cougars improved to 21-7 on the season and 11-3 in the conference while Georgia Southern fell to 13-15 and 4-7.

The win was the fourth in a row for the Cougars on starts by Powell who improved to 5-1 on the year and lowered his season ERA to 1.11. Powell pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits while striking out five. Senior David Peterson came in the ninth inning and punched out two Eagles to earn his seventh save of the season.

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College of Charleston's Tyler Jackson provided the offensive spark with a three-run home run that proved to be the eventual game-winner. It was Jackson's third bomb of the season, who was making his first start as a designated hitter.

Senior Rob Harding tallied three hits on the day, scoring one run, while freshman Gunnar Heidt slapped two hits.

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Georgia Southern starter Justin Hess (1-1) picked up the loss for Georgia Southern as he allowed three runs and six hits in 6.0 IP. No Eagle tallied more than one hit, while Michael Burruss scored the only run for GSU.

After a pitching battle for the first three innings, Jackson broke the deadlock with a three-run blast to right field in the top of the fourth inning. Harding and Brandon Murray scored on the play.

College of Charleston put runners on again in the fifth inning as Heidt singled and Harding found a hole on the right side with a hit and run on to put Heidt on third. After Marty Gantt was hit by a pitch, the Cougars had the bases loaded with just one out. However, GSU's Hess struck out Daniel Aldrich and induced a flyout from Murray to end the inning.

In the seventh inning, the Cougars put runners at second and third with hits and a stolen base from Heidt and Harding. A balk from new Georgia Southern pitcher Taylor Burke on his first pitch scored Heidt from third and the Cougars extended the lead to 4-0.

The Eagles finally put a run across in the bottom of the eighth inning as two batters were hit and a wild pitch from reliever Kyle Owings allowed Burruss to score from third.

The game was delayed from its originally scheduled 2:30 p.m. start because of storms in the area, and started at 6 p.m.

College of Charleston will go for the series win tomorrow in the rubber game at 1:30 p.m.

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