Story by Brandon Alter

ATLANTA — Coastal scored three runs in both the third and fifth inning and got a much-needed pitching performance from freshman Nick Parker to roll past Florida A&M 9-4 in the first ever meeting between the two schools.

Cameron Pearcey scored the first run of the game for the Chanticleers in the top of the third thanks to heads-up baserunning. Pearcey doubled to right-center and went to third when the ball got past the center fielder. Cory Wood then singled him home. Kyle Skeels made it 2-0 with a sac fly to center. Zach Biermann capped the inning by scoring on a wild pitch.

The Rattlers would get a run back on a solo shot to start the fourth, but Parker would shut the door for the rest of his outing.  He went a career long 5 innings allowing eight hits, charged for three runs, all earned, while walking just one of the 24 batters he faced in recording just his second win on the season.

Coastal would respond with another three runs in the fifth. Skeels had another sac fly before Scott McKeon recorded an RBI single and Nick Lucky walked home a run to make it 6-1.

Jake Wright seemed to put the game out of reach with a solo shot in the sixth — which made the score 7-1 — but the Rattlers wouldn’t go down without a fight. Florida A&M would score three in the bottom of the sixth, two of the runs were charged to Parker, to cut the deficit to three.

Parker Chavers homered in the seventh and Biermann had an RBI single to end the day. The Chanticleers now face the loser of Georgia Tech and Auburn in another elimination game at noon on Sunday.

COASTAL CAROLINA STATS:

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE: