CONWAY, SC —The Coastal Carolina University baseball team (2-0) received a stellar pitching performance from junior Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman) and were efficient on the basepaths in defeating Delaware State University (0-2) 7-2 Feb. 8, at Charles Watson Stadium in Conway, S.C. Coastal swiped seven bases for the game, including three from senior Ryan McGraw (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central).

Hurry pitched six scoreless innings, striking out three and walking only one in the three-hit performance. He got out of a bases loaded no-out jam with a fly out to center by Kelly Williams and a double play grounder off the bat of Bret Underwood. Junior Mike Andreas (Hanover, Pa./Georgia Tech) and sophomore Zach Baldwin (Barboursville, W.Va./Cabell Midland) each threw an inning of relief and sophomore Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) finished off the game in the ninth.

Coastal got on the board early in the first. Junior Brett Grandstrand (Newcastle, Wash./Liberty) walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error from starting pitcher Kevin Long. Costanzo then reached on an error by the second baseman, scoring Grandstrand. Coastal added two in the second on an RBI double from senior Chad Oxendine (Rowland, N.C./Avalon Academy) that scored freshman Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall). After a single from junior Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.), McGraw executed a bunt single, scoring Oxendine.

In the fourth, Todd singled to left field to open the inning and McGraw walked. McGraw advanced to second after Todd was caught stealing third. McGraw then stole third and scored on a throwing errror. Grandstrand then walked and stole second and then scored on a double by Costanzo down the right field line.

The Chants put up a two spot in the eighth. Todd was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second on a failed pickoff by the pitcher. McGraw walked and both runners moved up on a groundout by Grandstrand. Todd scored on a wild pitch and McGraw scored on an RBI single from junior Brett Gordon (Sonora, Calif./Merced J.C.).

Delaware State avoided the shut out with two runs in the ninth. Pinch hitter Duben Word opened the inning with a double and moved to third on a passed ball. Brandon Tanner walked, Garrett Weir was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded. CJ Acker singled to left, scoring Word and Tanner.

Coastal had nine hits on the game, with two hits each from Costanzo, Gordon and Todd. Grandstrand had two stolen bases, while senior Jeremiah Grove (Los Banos, Calif./Merced J.C.) and Raber had one stolen base each.

Delaware State had two hits from Acker, who also drove in two runs. Kevin Long took the loss, going 3 1/3 innings, giving up six hits, four earned runs while striking out two.

Coastal opens a three-game series with the University of Delaware Friday, Feb. 13, at 4 p.m.

NOTES: Coastal’s first double play of the season was huge, as the combo of sophomore Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina), Grandstrand and Gordon got Coastal out of a one-out bases loaded jam ... McGraw now needs 66 stolen bases to become the NCAA all-time stolen base leader ... Delaware State had six errors on the day and 11 in the series ... Costanzo went 4-of-9 for the series, while Gordon was 3-of-7.