CONWAY, SC —The Coastal Carolina University baseball team (3-1) fell to the University of Missouri (4-0) 12-10 in 10 innings Feb. 19 in game one of the John Vrooman Beach Blast Tournament at Charles Watson Stadium in Conway, S.C. The Chanticleers battled back in the bottom of the ninth with three runs to tie it, but the Tigers scored two in the top of the 10th to win it.

The Chants got off to a good start in the bottom of the first when hot-hitting sophomore Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) hit a two-run blast of the foul pole in left field. The score stayed the same until the top of the third, when Missouri knotted the game at two on a bases loaded walk by Ryan Rallo and a sacrifice fly from Zane Taylor that scored Jason Boone.

Costanzo went deep again to lead off the fourth inning, taking a 1-0 pitch over the centerfielder. Missouri would quickly answer, taking the lead with five runs in the top of the fifth. A walk and a single to lead off the inning was followed another walk to Tyler Williams. That was the end for junior lefthander Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman), who pitched four innings, giving up four hits and five runs while striking out four and walking five. Junior Mike Andreas (Hanover, Pa./Georgia Tech) came in and walked Rallo for his second RBI of the day. Williams then scored on a wild pitch, giving Missouri a 5-4 lead. Lee Laskowski then delivered a two-run single, giving the Tigers a 7-3 lead.

Missouri scored one in the sixth on a Rallo double, but Coastal answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Costanzo walked, junior Brett Gordon (Sonora, Calif./Merced J.C.) singled to right, and senior Greg Orsimarsi (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Socastee) walked to load the bases. Freshman Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) then doubled in two off new pitcher Taylor Parker. Junior Jason Krohn (Gresham, Ore./Lower Columbia College) singled right after Raber and senior Chad Oxendine (Rowland, N.C./Avalon Academy) drove in a run on a sacrfice bunt.

Missouri added insurance in the ninth on an RBI single from Cody Ehlers and a sacrifice fly from Jeremy Hernandez. Coastal fought back in the bottom of the frame. Senior Ryan McGraw (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) reached on an error to start the inning. Junior Brett Grandstrand (Newcastle, Wash./Liberty) singled, advancing McGraw to third. Costanzo walked and Gordon drove home McGraw with a sacrifice fly. Sophomore Adam Pernasilici (Tecumseh, Ontario/St. Anne’s) drove in Grandstrand on a fielder’s choice grounder, making the score 10-9. Pernasilici made a huge play by stealing second, because Raber singled to right, scoring Pernasilici with the tying run. Krohn walked, putting runners on first and second, but junior Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.) grounded out to third to end the inning.

Missouri earned the winning runs on a two-run single by catcher Brad Flanders. In the bottom of the 10th, sophomore Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina) opened the inning with a single and Grandstrand drew a one-out walk. But Mark Alexander struck out the last two Chants to earn the win.

Alexander went to 1-0, striking out three in 1.1 innings. Junior Byron Binda (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) was charged with the loss, giving up two unearned runs in the 10th. Danny Hill had the start for the Tigers, striking out nine in five innings.

The John Vrooman Beach Blast Tournament continues tomorrow with three games. Missouri faces Rider at 10 a.m., Albany plays Evansville at 1 p.m. and Coastal faces Evansville at 4 p.m.

NOTE: Missouri’s six pitcher struck out 13 Coastal hitters ... Coastal pitcher picked off three Tigers off first ... Coastanzo has had two or more hits in all four Coastal games.