In the Cougars' second game, staff ace Nick Chigges turned in a complete game shut out, striking out a career high thirteen in the process. But as good as Chigges was, the Charleston bullpen was even better. Quinn Monsma, Josh McLaughlin, and Jeff Beliveau combined to pitch 18.2 innings without allowing a run. On Sunday night against Kentucky, they twice got the Cougars out of jams in which the go-ahead run had come to the plate.

Pitching has been the key to Charleston's succes all season. The team ranked third in the nation with a 2.95 ERA. And this past weekend in Lexington, the Cougars bettered that average by over a run. In 34 innings of regional play, Charleston pitchers gave up only seven runs (an absurd 1.85 ERA).

The Charleston offense, in the mean time, has been inconsistent. Against Ball State, the Cougars exploded for 11 runs and 16 hits. But against Kentucky and Notre Dame, they had long dry spells that nearly did them in. In their 16 epic against the Irish, for instance, they went nine innings without a run. Against Kentucky, after a six-run first inning that shot them to the lead, they managed only one run the rest of the way.

Much was made in Lexington of Pawlowski's propensity to play small ball. They set a team and conference record on Sunday night with their 94th sacrifice bunt of the year. But the 94th sac bunt, like in many cases before it, didn't result in a run -- only a runner stranded in scoring position. The Cougars might need to play more aggressive (let those batters take some swings!) if they are going to advance past Super Regionals.

They'll also need more from the top of their lineup. Their lead off and #2 men went a combined 7-for-31 (.226) in Lexington and neither of them once crossed home plate.

Traditional wisdom says that pitching carries teams in the postseason. It seems that Charleston is determined to put that theory to the test.