Up in the media booth, we were all confused about what had happened. The scoreboard operator had already added the run, and the Charleston bench was celebrating its twelfth run of the night. The Cardinals, though, started running off the field, and looking over at Cobb at first, it was obvious he was arguing the call.

Can't say it mattered much.

Nick Chigges closed out the ninth with two more strikeouts, putting him at thirteen for the game, a career high. For the game, he allowed no runs, gave up only five hits, and didn't walk a batter. Chigges right now is as hot as any pitcher in the country. He has pitched 24 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings and has won his last 11 decisions.

Offensively, it was the bottom of the lineup that carried the Cougars. Batters five through nine went 13-for-20, scored ten of the team's eleven runs, and had nine of the team's ten RBIs. Joey Friddle, the nine man, was especially big. He had five RBIs alone and his two-run shot in the fourth made it 5-0, putting the game (for all intents and purposes) out of reach.

Tomorrow's early game is a rematch between Kentucky and Ball State. Even though the Cardinals beat them just last night, I'd give the edge to UK for a number of reasons. For one, the Cats are coming off a blow out win in which they used only one pitcher. Ball State is in the opposite situation: reeling from a blow out loss in which they used a number of pitchers. Plus, UK has finally found its offense -- which had largely disappeared during the Cats' four game losing streak.

Charleston, though, is in the driver's seat for the regional. After giving up four runs in the first three innings against Notre Dame, the Cougars have showed why they ranked third in the NCAA this year in team ERA -- having not allowed a run in 22 innings. And after tonight's offensive explosion, it looks like the offense is rounding into form at just the right time.