#Clemson Regional: Gary Gilmore’s career comes to an end as the Tigers advance to the “Supers” with a 12-5 win over #CCU (AUDIO)

The Clemson baseball team won a game on Sunday night, but the victory may have been unlike any in program history. The Tigers’ 12-5 win over Coastal Carolina clinched a regional championship and also ushered in two new eras in South Carolina. For Clemson, it’s their first regional title since 2010 and puts the Tigers just two wins away from a return trip to the College World Series. For Coastal Carolina, it marks the beginning of Kevin Schnall’s tenure as head coach, with Gary Gilmore heading off into retirement.

For Gilmore and the Chanticleers, it certainly wasn’t the way they wanted to go out. CCU committed four errors, leading to three unearned runs. CCU, playing in its second game of the day and fourth of the regional, also ran low on pitching, and it showed against the Tigers. Clemson drew eight walks while forcing Coastal to throw 192 pitches during the game. However, the Tigers allowed the Chanticleers to hang around by not taking full advantage of those opportunities until the 8th inning.

With Coastal trailing 6-2, the Chanticleers began a last-gasp effort to force a deciding game of the regional on Monday. Caden Bodine belted a two-run homer, which was followed by a solo shot from Derek Bender to narrow Clemson’s lead to 6-5. But in the bottom of the frame, the Tigers removed any question about them having to play an additional game.

Cam Cannarella led off the inning with a homer, his 10th of the season. Later in the frame, Jack Crighton grounded a run-scoring single, then Alden Mathes and Jacob Hinderleider both hit two-run doubles to provide the final margin of victory.

Reed Garris (2-1) earned the win in a career-long 3.0 innings pitched in relief, while Austin Gordon pitched 1.1 innings to record his 11th save of the year. Chanticleer starter Trevor Hinkel (1-3) suffered the loss.

The Tigers advance to host the Clemson Super Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium against the winner of the Stillwater Regional. The best-of-three series begins either Friday or Saturday. Game dates and times will be announced by the NCAA.

For Gary Gilmore, he leaves behind a long list of accomplishments in a coaching career that spans over thirty years. 19 NCAA D1 regional appearances, three Super Regional berths, and, of course, the 2016 National Championship. Gilmore was also named National Coach of the Year in 2016, along with being enshrined in the USC-Aiken “Hall of Fame” in 2014, while having his jersey retired by Coastal Carolina this baseball season.

Box Score

CCU HC Gary Gilmore — Final NCAA Regional Press Conference

CU HC Erik Bakich, Gordon, Hinderleider, and Wright — NCAA Regional Press Conference

Coastal 6 — High Point 5: Coastal advanced to the regional final with a one-run victory over High Point, and it was a nail-biter throughout. Though early, it appeared as if the Chanticleers were going to run away and hide from the Panthers, as CCU struck quickly in the bottom of the first. After a base hit and a walk put runners at first and second, DH Derek Bender deposited a three-run home run, his 10th of the season, into the left field bleachers to give Coastal a 3-0 lead after one.

High Point responded with a run in the top of the second to make it 3-1, a tally that remained until the final few innings of the game. In the sixth, both teams scored as CCU maintained a two-run advantage, setting the stage for a wild and decisive seventh inning.

High Point grabbed its first and only lead of the game in the seventh, scoring three runs on three hits with a Chanticleer error mixed in. A potential insurance run was thrown out at the plate on a nifty two-four-two caught stealing turned in by the Coastal defense.

In the bottom of the seventh, CCU catcher Caden Bodine propelled the Chanticleers into the regional final with a two-run HR to right field.

A total of six relievers backed up Coastal starter Oliver Ellison to allow four runs on seven hits and two strikeouts. Andrew Bowers got the win out of the bullpen, tossing two innings of shutout ball on three hits with one strikeout.

Box Score