RADFORD, Va. – The Coastal Carolina University baseball team (24-11, 7-5 Big South) scored seven runs in the sixth inning and had another solid pitching performance, this time from sophomore Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), as the Chants defeated Radford University (15-17, 7-5 Big South) 12-6 April 18, in Radford, Va., The victory completed a three-game sweep of the Highlanders.

Radford threatened in both the second and fifth innings with runners on first and second and no one out, but sophomore Costanzo struck out the last two Highlanders in the second and enduced Stuart Ritchie into a double play in the fifth.

Coastal broke through in the top of the sixth when sophomore Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina) blasted a solo shot to right field to lead off the inning. After a walk to junior Brett Grandstrand (Newcastle, Wash./Liberty), Costanzo helped himself with a double to left, scoring Grandstrand. After a single from freshman Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall), junior Jason Krohn (Gresham, Ore./Lower Columbia College) laided down a successful suicide squeeze, scoring Costanzo. Junior Brett Gordon (Sonora, Calif./Merced J.C.) loaded the bases with a sacrifice bunt and sophomore Adam Pernasilici (Tecumseh, Ontario/St. Anne’s) brought in Raber as he was hit by a pitch. Senior Chad Oxendine (Rowland, N.C./Avalon Academy) came through with another big run-producing hit as he singled to left, scoring Krohn. Gordon came home on an RBI groundout from senior Ryan McGraw (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central). Grandstrand drove in the seventh run of the inning on a fielder’s choice RBI.

Coastal added a run in the seventh when Krohn scored on a wild pitch. Dean Altavilla cut the lead to 8-2 with a two-run double and Altavilla scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to five, but sophomore Josh Fish (Bostic, N.C./Rutherfordton Spindle) got Alan Ashworth to fly out to left to end the threat. Coastal added insurance in the ninth, as senior Jeremiah Grove (Los Banos, Calif./Merced J.C.) drove in Costanzo with an RBI single and Oxendine doubled down the left field line to score Gordon and Grove. McGraw then drove in Oxendine with a single to right field.

Radford scored in the ninth, two off a single from Stuart Ritchie, but sophomore Zach Baldwin (Barboursville, W.Va./Cabell Midland) struck out John Vallines and got Mark Fleisher to ground out to end the game.

Costanzo earned the victory for the Chants, going 6.2 innings, striking out four while allowing only six hits and three earned runs. He improved his record to 5-2 on the season. The Coastal pitching held the Highlanders to seven runs for the whole series.

Oxendine went 2-for-5 with three RBI for the Chants. Krohn, Costanzo and Raber also had two hits in the win.

Tom Graham held Coastal hitless for five innings, but took the loss, giving up six runs and walking five.

Coastal ends its seven-game road trip Tuesday, April 20, at UNC Wilmington. Game time is at 7 p.m.