ROME, GA- The Charleston RiverDogs continued their strong start to the 2012 season on Saturday night when they beat the Rome Braves 8-5 in front of 4,299 spectators at State Mutual Park. It was their second win in three tries in the team's first road trip of the year and kept them in first place in the South Atlantic League Southern Divison.

The RiverDogs (6-3) offense got started early, as they scored five runs in the first two innings off Rome starter Carlos Perez (0-1). The big hit was a 2-run single by outfielder Ben Gamel in the first inning, but there were many contributors on this night. Tyler Austin had another big night, going 4-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Austin now has at least one extra-base hit in five of his last six games. Mason Williams, Dante Bichette, Jr., Reymond Nunez, and Kelvin De Leon also had multi-hit games and Gamel swiped two bases. Charleston starter Scottie Allen (1-1) was the beneficiary of all the offense and pitched five innings while giving up four runs and striking out three for the win.

The Braves offense got off to a good start as well, scoring three times in the first two innings, but they were mostly held in check after that. Allen was relieved in the 6th by Pedro Guerra, who threw two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. Philip Wetherell pitched the last two innings and allowed only one run to seal the win.

The fourth and final game of the series is tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Right-hander Will Oliver (0-1 1.80 ERA) makes his third start of the year for the RiverDogs against Rome righty Rafael Briceno (1-0 0.00 ERA).

-RIVERDOGS-