Cougars Walk Over Jacksonville

College of Charleston tied a school record with 12 runs in the first inning and went on to defeat Jacksonville, 16-3, on Wednesday night at Patriots Point.

The win extended the Cougars’ winning streak to five games as College of Charleston (20-6) reached the 20-win mark on the season. Jacksonville fell to 11-15 on the year.

In the remarkable first inning, which lasted nearly 45 minutes, the Cougars tallied 12 runs on 10 hits while Jacksonville surrendered two walks, two hit batsmen and two wild pitches. Marty Gantt’s two-RBI double was the only multiple-base hit of the inning. Every batter reached base, and the lineup batted around twice.

For the game, Rob Harding finished with four RBIs including a two-run home run in the fifth inning, while Bradley Goodson hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.

Junior Ryan Welke, redshirt-sophomore Daniel Aldrich, Goodson, Gantt and Harding all tallied multiple RBIs. With Gantt’s hit, he now extends his hitting streak to 10 games, tying his previous streak earlier this season.

College of Charleston finished with 16 hits and tied the previous season high of 16 runs set over the weekend against Davidson. The Cougars have now reached double digits in runs five times this season.

Starter Griffin Jones pitched four innings and allowed two runs on six hits for a no decision. Derrick Smith (1-0) earned his first win of his career by pitching the fifth inning and giving up an unearned run with two strikeouts.

The Dolphins used nine different pitchers on the night after starter Corben Madden (1-2) faced five batters in the first inning before being relieved. Adam Brett Walker went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for Jacksonville.

College of Charleston will travel to Georgia Southern for an important SoCon series beginning on Friday, March 30 at 6 p.m.