Redshirt senior Alex Lyon delivered 4.2 scoreless innings as the College of Charleston baseball team defeated Rutgers 8-3 on Friday at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
With this win, the Cougars improved their Opening Day record to 20-1 since 2006 and remain undefeated at 9-0 under head coach Chad Holbrook. This game marked the first-ever meeting between Charleston and Rutgers in program history.
Junior Brent Gibbs contributed significantly, going 3-for-4 with a walk and scoring two runs. Graduate players Reece Holbrook and Will Tippett also scored twice each during the game.
Charleston extended its early lead by scoring three runs in the second inning. Gibbs hit a two-run double to left-center field before scoring himself on a double by redshirt senior Ethan Plyler down the left field line. Rutgers narrowed the gap by adding two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but Charleston responded with one run each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
Lyon entered after junior Hayden Thomas pitched 3.1 innings with five strikeouts in a no-decision. Lyon required only 47 pitches to shut down Rutgers’ offense during his appearance.
Sophomore Landon Penfield matched his career high with three walks during Friday’s contest.
Other notable moments included freshman Jake Amman making his collegiate debut alongside several teammates who played their first games for Charleston: Holbrook, Tippett, redshirt junior Braeden Smith, and graduate Kurt Rogers. Gibbs recorded his third career three-hit game and eleventh multi-hit performance overall.
The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled at Patriots Point. The first game is set for nine innings beginning at 1 p.m., followed by a seven-inning contest approximately thirty minutes after game one concludes.
For more updates on Charleston baseball, fans can follow X (@CofCBaseball) and Instagram (@CofC_Baseball).
