CONWAY , SC — Birmingham-Southern College (18-6, 5-1 Big South) jumped out to a 5-0 lead March 28 and despite a three-run eighth innings from the Coastal Carolina University baseball team (17-7, 1-2 Big South), held on for a 5-3 win over the Chants at Charles Watson Stadium at Vrooman Field in Conway, S.C.

The Panthers scored two runs in the first inning of freshman Kevin Marrie (Clarksville, Md./River Hill). Matt Bogue opened the game with a walk and moved to second on a bunt single from Michael Cline. Both runners moved up on a Marrie throwing error and scored on a single from Connor Robertson. BSC scored a run in the second on an RBI single from Bogue to score Matt Barber. The Panthers made it 4-0 in the fourth on an RBI single from Michael Wydner that scored Barber.

The Panthers added insurance in the eighth when Robertson doubled, Ryan Griffith singled and Robertson scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Walker.

Coastal made its charge in the eighth as freshman Derek Martin (Barnwell, S.C./Barnwell) opened the inning with a single. Senior Chad Oxendine (Rowland, N.C./Avalon Academy) walked and with one out, sophomore Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina) singled in Martin to make it 5-1. Junior Brett Grandstrand (Newcastle, Wash./Liberty) drove in Oxendine with an RBI single and sophomore Mike Costanzo (Springlield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) singled in DeJesus to make the score 5-3. Reliever Brandon Hynick came in and got pinch hitter Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) to fly out to left and Robertson came in and struck out junior Jon Foisy (Ridgecrest, Calif./Cerro Coso C.C.) to end the inning.

Wes Letson earned his fourth victory of the season for Birmingham-Southern, going 7.1 innings, striking out four and allowing seven hits and three runs. Robertson picked up his third save by pitching 1.1 innings of relief, striking out three.

Marrie went seven innings, giving up four runs and nine hits to fall to 2-1 on the year.

Martin and DeJesus had two hits apiece for Coastal. Senior Ryan McGraw (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) had two solid hits, but ended up outs on fantastic plays from the BSC centerfielder Bogue.

Robertson was 3-of-4 at the plate for the Panthers. Bogue and Barber had two hits apiece.

Coastal steps out-of-conference to face The Citadel Tuesday, March 30, at 6 p.m., in Conway, S.C.