Story by Brandon Alter

ATLANTA — Coastal Carolina and Georgia Tech had just about everything in their elimination game except good pitching. The two teams combined for 16 runs, multiple reviews, controversy, a huge comeback and even an ejection in a crisp 3:59. In the end, the Yellow Jackets topped the Chanticleers 10-8 in what head coach Garry Gilmore called a “circus”.

It was a dream start for Coastal, as the designated home team they scored early and often. They took a 4-0 lead after one that ballooned to 7-2 after four innings. The Chanticleers chased the Yellow Jacket starter after just a third of an inning. Zach Biermann, Scott McKeon, Nick Lucky, Cory Wood, Kieton Rivers and Kyle Skeels all had RBIs to build the Coastal lead.

Then came disaster.

Coastal’s pitching staff loaded the bases back-to-back times in the fourth and fifth, bending but not breaking. That changed in the sixth. Alaska Abney walked two batters and hit one allowing Georgia Tech to load the bases once more. This time, they capitalized with a two-run single. Coastal would get out of the jam with their lead whittled down to three.

It didn’t stop there.

Dylan Gentry walked two batters to start the inning and pitching coach Drew Thomas came to the mound to chat. After sometime, the home plate umpire joined them before tossing Thomas from the game. Georgia Tech then loaded the bases for the fourth straight inning.

Jay Causey came into the game and his first pitch was hit to the right center wall for a three-RBI triple to tie the game. Two pitches later Georgia Tech would take the lead.

Georgia tech would add one more in the seventh to put up a five spot in the inning. Coastal would get one back in the bottom half of the frame, only to see the Yellow Jackets restore the two-run lead in the top of the ninth.

The Chanticleers had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the inning but couldn’t get anything going. Their season ends at 36-26-1.

COASTAL CAROLINA STATS:

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE: