The Citadel Bulldogs baseball

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Founded1899; 127 years ago (1899)
UniversityThe Citadel
The Citadel Bulldogs
2026 The Citadel Bulldogs baseball team
Founded1899; 127 years ago (1899)
UniversityThe Citadel
Athletic directorMike Capaccio
Head coachRussell Triplett (2nd season)
ConferenceSouthern
LocationCharleston, South Carolina
Home stadiumJoseph P. Riley Jr. Park
(Capacity: 6,000)
NicknameBulldogs
ColorsInfantry blue and white[1]
   
College World Series appearances
1990
NCAA regional champions
1990
NCAA tournament appearances
1960, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010
Conference tournament champions
1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010
Conference regular season champions
1960, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2010

The Citadel Bulldogs baseball team represents The Citadel in college baseball. They are classified as NCAA Division I and play in the Southern Conference. The Bulldogs are led by Russell Triplett, who coached his first season in 2025.[2] They made their one appearance in the College World Series in 1990. They are the first and, through 2025, only military school to appear in the College World Series. The Citadel has won eight Southern Conference baseball tournament titles and produced 11 major league players.

College Park

The Bulldogs play their games at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park located just outside The Citadel campus in Charleston, SC. They share the facility with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs, and have permanent rights to play in the stadium as it was built on formerly Citadel-owned land. The original home of The Citadel baseball team was on WLI Field, on the banks of the Ashley River on campus, and still in use today by The Citadel soccer team. From 1967 until the opening of Riley Park in 1997, The Bulldogs played in College Park, located northeast of campus on Rutledge Avenue. This facility is still in use as The Citadel practice facility and for community purposes. On-campus locker rooms are located in McAlister Field House, an indoor batting cage and other team spaces are located in Vandiver Hall. Like all Citadel athletic teams, the Bulldogs utilize strength and conditioning, medical, and video spaces in Seignious Hall.

Coaches

Coaching records
Below are records for all coaches who have known records at The Citadel[3]

Coach Years Seasons Wins Losses Ties Pct.
O. B. "Rip" Sanderson 1908 1 5 1 0 .833
George A. Schmick 1910 1 4 6 0 .400
"Barney" Legge 1911 1 2 5 1 .286
George C. Rogers 1914–15, 1921–24 6 26 33 1 .441
Thomas S. McMillan 1916, 1919 2 8 12 0 .400
"Shorty" O'Brien 1918 1 3 9 0 .250
Ed Sabre 1920 1 3 1 0 .750
"Bull Dog" Drummond 1925 1 2 7 0 .222
H. L. "Matty" Matthews 1926–30, 1937–38 3 10 25 1 .286
Dusty Rhodes 1947 1 2 5 0 .286
Bunzy O'Neal 1948 1 6 7 0 .462
John D. McMillan 1952–53 2 14 15 0 .483
Harold Manley 1954 1 5 9 0 .357
Fred Montsdeoca 1954–56 2 22 31 0 .415
Mack Erwin 1957–60 4 62 30 1 .672
Jim Newsome 1961–64 4 37 43 0 .463
Chal Port 1965–91 27 641 386 2 .624
Fred Jordan 1992–2017 26 831 706 0 .541
Tony Skole 2018–2024 7 123 216 0 .363
Russell Triplett 2025–present 1 31 26 0 .544

Comprehensive records are only available beginning with the 1954 season. The Citadel continues to research and compile records for previous seasons.

Current staff

Coach Position Years
Russell Triplett Head coach 1
David Beckley Assistant coach 17 (1st stint 2002–2017)
James Reeves Pitching Coach 1
Phil Tobin Assistant Coach 1

Seasons and results

Plaque honoring The Citadel's baseball tradition at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park

The Citadel has posted four 40-win seasons and 26 30-win seasons. The Bulldogs are one of the leading programs in the Southern Conference, trailing only Western Carolina in total championships by one, with all other programs several behind the two leaders.

NCAA Tournament appearances

The Citadel holds a 13–27 record in the NCAA tournament in 13 appearances, winning the 1990 Atlantic Regional in Coral Gables, Florida.

The 1990 team overcame the damage of Hurricane Hugo to appear in the 1990 College World Series. Their finals matchup against the Miami Hurricanes resulted in headlines echoing the Hurricanes team name and noting the severe damage in Charleston, South Carolina, from Hurricane Hugo the previous fall, including damage to The Citadel's stadium, College Park.[4] The Bulldogs went 1–2 in the College World Series, defeating Cal State Fullerton in an extra-inning thriller before falling to LSU for a second time in their elimination game.

Year Region Opponent Result
1960District 3 PlayoffsFlorida
North Carolina
Florida
L 2–4
L 1–13
L 1–4
1975Atlantic RegionalSouth Carolina
NC State
L 3–11
L 3–16
1979Atlantic RegionalMiami
Georgia Southern
L 1–3 (16)
L 3–5
1982East RegionalNorth Carolina
South Carolina
Old Dominion
South Carolina
W 9–4
L 4–6
W 15–1
L 2–11
1983East RegionalDelaware
North Carolina
James Madison
Delaware
W 14–5
W 5–3
L 2–5
L 1–7
1990Atlantic RegionalNC State
East Carolina
Miami
Miami
LSU
Cal State Fullerton
LSU
W 11–3
W 8–5
W 6–2
W 4–1
L 2–8
W 8–7 (12)
L 1–6
1994East Regional[a]Clemson
Virginia Tech
Notre Dame
L 1–5
W 4–3
L 1–5
1995Mideast RegionalTennessee
Pittsburgh
L 2–5
L 10–12
1998East RegionalClemson
Fordham
VCU
L 3–12
W 5–1
L 2–3 (11)
1999Tallahassee Super Regional
Tallahassee Regional
Florida State
Providence
L 6–24
L 1–12
2001Palo Alto Super Regional
Columbia Regional
South Carolina
Princeton
L 0–16
L 6–11
2004Columbia Super Regional
Columbia Regional
South Carolina
Coastal Carolina
North Carolina
L 4–12
W 10–1
L 3–6
2010Myrtle Beach Super Regional
Columbia Regional
Virginia Tech
South Carolina
Virginia Tech
W 7–2
L 4–9
L 3–4

List of championships

Tournament championships

The Bulldogs have claimed eight Southern Conference baseball tournament championships, second all-time after Western Carolina. The Bulldogs won their first tournament in 1990, and most recently won in 2010. The Tournament's greatest box office success has come when held in Charleston with The Citadel reaching the finals. The Citadel was a participant in each of the top 10 most attended SoCon Baseball Tournament games through the 2011 tournament.[6]

Regular season championships

The Citadel has won thirteen Southern Conference regular season championships. They won their first in 1960 and their most recent in 2010. The Bulldogs have won more Southern Conference regular season championships than any other program currently in the conference.[7]

Rivalries

The Citadel's primary athletic rivals are Virginia Military Institute, Furman, and College of Charleston. The recent rise of College of Charleston's baseball program has led to many close games and strong attendance both at Riley Park and at CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriots Point. The Bulldogs have had success against most in state schools, with the exception of Clemson and South Carolina.

Citadel records against opponents through the 2010 season[8]

Bulldogs in the pros

Individual honors

See also

References

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