Baseball Southern Conference

Cougars end season with loss to Oral Roberts

Clemson, S.C. - Nick Jones allowed just four hits as Oral Roberts defeated College of Charleston, 6-0, to end the Cougars season and advance to the championship game of the NCAA Regional in Clemson, S.C.

With the loss, CofC finishes the 2005 campaign with a record of 48-15 while Oral Roberts stands at 42-19 with the win.

Ricky Rivera's third inning double gave the Golden Eagles the first lead of the day. After Nick Chigges relieved Braden, a sacrifice fly by Dennis Bigley extended the lead to 2-0. Oral Roberts would add another in the inning on a RBI single to left by Tim Torres.

The Cougars threatened in the top of the fourth, with singles by Chris Campbell and Brian Hastings, but were unable to put runs on the board as Golden Eagle starter Nick Jones got Matt Kirkpatrick to strike out and end the inning.

Bigley's two-out seventh inning double off of Brett Harker increased the Golden Eagle's lead to 5-0.

Pinch-hitter Michael Harrington walked to lead off the eighth inning for the Cougars but the Cougars were unable to move him any further.

Jones (8-2) gave up a single to D.J. Wabick in the ninth but finished the game for his third complete game of the season. Jones allowed no runs on four hits while striking out seven.

Braden (4-1) was the losing pitcher, going 2.1 innings and allowing three unearned runs on two hits. Chigges pitched 3.2 innings in relief, giving up just one run on four hits.

At the plate, Brett Gardner, who was 1-for-3 in the game, led CofC. Gardner finishes his career as the Cougars leading hitter, collecting 297 hits in his three year career at the College.

Bigley, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, led the Golden Eagles.