Diamond Cats Drop SoCon Opener, 31-3, to Preseason Pick Charleston

Friday, March 21

Davidson, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

Coll. of Charleston

Diamond Cats Drop SoCon Opener, 31-3, to Preseason Pick Charleston

3/21/2008 9:58:18 PM | Baseball

Lauren Biggers - Assistant SID

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The Davidson Wildcats dropped their Southern Conference opener, 31-3, to the preseason favorite College of Charleston Cougars on Friday evening at Wilson Field.

The Cougars (14-7, 1-0) used 24 hits to score a program-high 31 runs, while the Wildcats (7-9, 0-1) had three runs on seven hits. The 31 runs was also the most allowed by a Wildcat squad; Wake Forest scored 30 runs on Feb. 24, 2000.

Third baseman Jeremie Tice led the Cougar offense, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with five runs scored and seven RBI, including a grand-slam in the fourth. Pinch hitter/ short stop Cole Rakar also recorded a grand-slam for Charleston as a part of the Cougar's 11-run fifth inning and finished with a pair of hits and runs scored in three at-bats while driving in six.

Charleston starter Danny Meszaros picked up the win for the Cougars, allowing just three runs on six hits in six solid innings on the mound. Evan Goldberg earned his first save of the season, allowing just one hit in three innings to close out the game. For Davidson, starter Chris Kennedy was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) on three hits in an inning of work.

First baseman Jay Honeycutt led the Wildcat offense at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

Charleston and Davidson will play the second game of the three-game series at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Wilson Field and finish with a 1 p.m. Easter Sunday contest.