Coastal Carolina recorded a doubleheader sweep on Sunday to force a decisive game seven at the NCAA Greenville, NC Regional. First, the Chanticleers rallied from six runs down to eliminate 2nd seeded Virginia, 7-6. Coastal then used those good vibes to register a 9-1 blowout of top seeded East Carolina in the nightcap to force Monday’s winner-take-all matchup with the Pirates. The game is set to begin at 1:06pm from Clark-LeClair Stadium.
UVA Game Recap: Coastal Carolina scored seven unanswered runs to erase a six-run deficit midway through its game with Virginia. First baseman Christopher Rowan, Jr. came through with a one-out RBI single in the 9th inning to score Austin White and complete the improbable comeback. The walk-off victory was the fifth this season for the teal, black, and bronze.
UVA was in complete control to begin the game, taking a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the 5th, thanks to a pair of mammoth home runs from third baseman Jake Gelof. His first was a two-run HR to left field which put the visitors up 3-0 after three. His second, a three-run shot in the 5th, looked as though it would be the death knell for the Chanticleers. However, CCU rallied back with three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth before the game turned into a battle of the bullpens.
Each squad had their chances to grab the lead in the latter innings, but it was UVA’s relievers that blinked first. Rowan, Jr.’s base hit off of Matt Wyatt was the difference in the ninth, propelling CCU into the regional final against ECU.
ECU Game Recap:
Senior right hander Nick Parker tossed eight scoreless innings, striking out a career-high ten batters as CCU walloped East Carolina 9-1 on Sunday night. The win snapped a twenty-game winning streak for the Pirates and marked a third straight victory for the Chanticleers in this weekend’s regional, after dropping the opener to Virginia on Friday.
For Coastal offensively, four different Chants homered in the win. Tyler Johnson was 2-for-4 with a HR and 2 RBIs, Christopher Rowan, Jr. was 2-for-3 with a HR, double, and a run scored. Meantime, Nick Lucky and Matt McDermott combined to drive in four runs while each had a homer in the onslaught. The Pirates’ offense was held to just four base hits for the game with outfielder Bryson Worrell hitting a home run in the ninth inning to spoil the Chants’ shutout attempt.
