SAVANNAH, Ga.- Charleston Southern broke open a close game with three runs in the fifth inning and three more in the eighth in a 10-4 non-conference victory over Savannah State.
The crowd at Tiger Field saw SSU take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Brian Miller laid down a bunt and Somto Egbuna walked to put runners on first and second. Cole Bruce singled to the shortstop, who made an error, which allowed Miller to score. CSU scored four runs off of five hits in the third to take a 4-1 advantage.
Savannah State (9-25) closed their gap to 4-3 in the bottom half of the inning.
The Bucs left the bases loaded in the fifth but were able to score three times to increase their lead to 7-3.
SSU had the bases loaded in the seventh but could only get one runner home as Sikes hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Bruce, who led off with a walk, to score.
Charleston Southern had three hits and scored three times in the eighth for a 10-4 cushion.
The Tigers had six hits, made two errors and left six runners on base.
SSU used seven pitchers and starter
Khalyd Cox was tagged with the loss. Cox pitched 2.1 innings and gave up six hits and four runs.
At the plate, Sikes drove in two runners.
The Bucs (14-19) finished the game with 17 hits and three errors while leaving eight runners on base.
Starter Kyle Dyson worked three innings and gave up three hits, three runs and two walks.
Sly Edwards went 3 for 5 and had two RBI and scored three runs.
