The Coastal Carolina University baseball team (16-3, 1-0 Big South) scored a run in the eighth inning and used strong pitching from juniors Ricky Shefka (Kinston, N.C./Old Dominion) and Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) to defeat High Point University (9-13, 0-1 Big South) 1-0 March 19 in the Big South Conference opener in High Point, N.C.

Shefka pitched outstanding, strking out eight in eight innings, allowing no runs and no walks. High Point only had two runners at third all game, and Shefka got out of jams in the fourth and sixth innings. He improved to 3-0 on the season.

Junior Aaron Verrett (Jupiter, Fla./Polk C.C.) had Coastal’s first hit in the second inning, but he was erased in a double play. Coastal had runners on first and third in the first inning, but High Point starter Eammon Portice got sophomore Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) to strike out to end the frame.

Coastal finally broke through in the eighth. Verrett walked to open the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior DJ Burns (Gilbert, Ariz./Chandler Gilbert J.C.) Junior Mike Fuentes (Miami, Fla./North Florida C.C.) then hit a high hopper that got through the middle of the infield, scoring Verrett.

Costanzo came in the ninth for Shekfa and got Jeremy Neyra to strike out and Mark Shorey to fly out. Josh Cotten singled, but was thrown out by junior Kevin Entsminger (Canton, Mich./College of the Siskiyous) trying to stretch the hit into a double, ending the game.

Verrett and Fuentes had Coastal’s only hits of the game. Portice struck out five and walked three in eight inning, but was tagged with the loss. Costanzo earned his fourth save of the year.

Chris Ramirez had two hits, the only player to have two or more all game.

Coastal now has won nine of its last 10 games and earned its fourth shutout of the season., the most in a season since 2000.

Coastal and High Point will play the second game of the series Sunday, March 20, at 1p.m.