College of Charleston baseball recorded two big wins in 2014’s opening weekend – clinching the weekend series against No. 12 University of North Carolina (UNC).
[Related: Read about the wins.]
This isn’t the first time UNC’s trip to the top U.S. city (according to Conde Nast Traveler readers) has resulted in disappointment. Here are five reasons we make Carolina blue:
1. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
The No. 12-ranked UNC baseball team is the highest-ranked team that the College has ever defeated in a three-game series. In 2010, the UNC men’s basketball team (defending NCAA champions) played the College at TD Arena, where they lost 82-79.
[Related: Watch highlights from the baseball series and the 2010 basketball upset.]
2. The “eyes” have it.
The weekend series boasted the largest attendance for a season-opening weekend in College of Charleston history.
Head Coach Monte Lee says, “It was a big series win for us, but it’s also a long season. We have to get ready to play every upcoming game with a will to win.”
[Related: This is CofC Baseball.]
3. They weren’t taking it easy.
This was a weekend series, meaning each team was starting its top pitchers. Cougar hitters faced several All-American pitchers who played in last year’s College World Series. The Cougars have won single games against Top-15 opponents in the past, but never a series.
Regarding UNC’s offensive prowess, Head Coach Monte Lee says, “Our young pitchers battled against some great hitters, and they showed a lot of toughness. Our offense also came through with some clutch hits against some of the best arms in college baseball.”
4. The victory made us the talk of the town.
Coach Lee was on nearly every S.C. sports talk radio show in the 12 hours after the series win. More than 3,700 people watched the games on UStream and the @CofCBaseball Twitter handle had more than 37,000 impressions in the past 24 hours.
5. We’re (South) Carolina’s team.
Of all Division I, state-supported S.C. baseball teams, the College of Charleston has the highest percentage of players from the Palmetto State – 64% of the players are from South Carolina.
[Related: College of Charleston baseball roster.]
For more information, contact Will Bryan at bryanc1@cofc.edu.
