The 21st-ranked Coastal Carolina University baseball team (19-3) scored four runs apiece in the second and third innings and six pitchers combined on a five-hitter as the Chanticleers defeated Siena College (2-11) 10-2 March 23, in Conway, S.C. Coastal’s 19-3 start is the best in head coach Gary Gilmore’s 10-year career at the school.

Coastal put up four runs in the second off Siena starter Kevin Snyder. Sophomore Adam Vrable (Bay City, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) singled with one out and moved to third on a double from sophomore Josh Eachues (Newberry, S.C./Newberry). Junior Kevin Entsminger (Canton, Mich./College of the Siskiyous) drove in Vrable on a groundout to first. Senior Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.) singled up the middle to score Eachues. After Todd stole second, he went to third as senior Jon Foisy (Ridgecrest, Calif./Cerro Coso C.C.) reached on a throwing error. Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) then drove in two on a double down the right field line.

Coastal scored four more in the third. Junior Aaron Verrett (Jupiter, Fla./Polk C.C.) started the inning with a single and moved to third after a stolen base and sacrifice bunt. Verrett scored on a single from Vrable, making it 5-0 Coastal. After a walk to Eachues and an Entsminger single, Todd drove in two on a double to left field. Foisy then singled home Todd, giving the Chants an 8-0 lead.

Siena scored a run in the fifth as pinch hitter Michael Ambury drove home Jacob Willis on a sacrifice fly. The Saints added one in the eighth inning as pinch hitter Pete Paris drove home Ambury on a sacrifice.

Coastal put two more on the board in the bottom of the eighth. Todd singled with one out, stole second and scored on a single from Costanzo. Junior DJ Burns (Gilbert, Ariz./Chandler Gilbert J.C.) then brought Costanzo home on a double to left field.

Senior Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman) earned the win for the Chanticleers, going four innings, giving up two hits and striking out two Saints. Five Chant relievers combined to strike out seven batters. The loss went to Snyder, who struck out four and gave up six earned runs in three innings.

Costanzo went 4-for-4 on the day with three RBI, while Todd had three hits and drove in three. Coastal had 15 hits on the day. For Siena, Willis had two hits and a run scored.

This is the best start at Coastal since 1983, when the Chants started 25-3-1.

Coastal will open a three-game series with VMI Friday, March 25, at 4 p.m. This is a change from the orginial schedule. Siena is at Niagara March 25-26.