Extra Inning Magic Lifts Cougars to Series Victory Over Monmouth – College of Charleston Athletics

Extra Inning Magic Lifts Cougars to Series Victory Over Monmouth – College of Charleston Athletics

Mt. Pleasant, S.C. – College of Charleston showcased its resilience on Saturday as they clinched a series win over Monmouth with a thrilling 6-5 victory in extra innings at Patriots Point. The Cougars (23-10, 8-3 CAA) capitalized on a pair of errors in the bottom of the 10th to secure the win in dramatic fashion.

Dramatic Finish

The game took a dramatic turn in the 10th inning when Trotter Harlan and Tyler Sorrentino scored on a throwing error by third baseman Joey Ventresca with two outs. This extra-inning victory marked the Cougars’ first of the season and their third consecutive series win in the CAA conference.

Despite the Hawks scoring twice in the top of the 10th to take a 5-3 lead, the Cougars rallied back. Harlan’s double brought in Dariyan Pendergrass to narrow the gap to one run. Cole Mathis then reached base on an error, loading the bases for Cole Singsank, whose grounder to third led to a throwing error, allowing the tying and winning runs to score.

Harlan’s double not only secured the win but also extended his hitting streak to seven games. Additionally, it propelled him into fifth place in school history for two-base hits with 56 in his career.

Pitching Performance

Andrew Duval emerged as the winning pitcher after retiring the only batter he faced in the top of the 10th inning. Cougars’ starter Aidan Hunter gave up six hits and two earned runs in 5.2 innings, while Hayden Thomas and Emmett Bice combined to allow three hits and one run in three innings out of the bullpen.

Key Moments

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Mathis ignited the Cougars’ offense with a solo home run, marking the 10th time in the past 11 games that the team has gone deep. Singsank doubled and later scored on a base hit by Kevin Madden to tie the game.

The back-and-forth battle continued as Charleston scored in the seventh inning to level the score at 3, courtesy of a well-placed bunt by Dylan Johnson that brought home Luke Wood, who had led off the inning with a double.

Looking Ahead

Charleston, which has now won seven of its last eight CAA games, will aim for a series sweep against Monmouth in the upcoming finale on Sunday at 11:45 a.m.

Player Performances

Harlan, Mathis, and Singsank stood out at the plate, while Duval, Hunter, Thomas, and Bice showcased their pitching prowess in the crucial victory.

With this hard-fought win, the Cougars are proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the CAA conference as they continue to dominate their opponents and eye further success in the remainder of the season.