The 21st-ranked Coastal Carolina University baseball team (21-4, 5-1 Big South) split its doubleheader with VMI (13-13, 3-3 Big South), falling in the first game 3-2, but rebounding for a 3-1 victory in the nightcap March 26 in Conway, S.C.

In game one, VMI quickly put two on the board in the first. Matt Smith walked and came home on Kelly Sweppenhiser’s seventh home run of the year, making it 2-0 Keydets. Coastal came back with one in the fourth inning when junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) singled, sophomore Danny Morgan (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian) walked and junior Aaron Verrett (Jupiter, Fla./Polk C.C.) brought home Costanzo on a sacrifice fly. VMI added a run in the sixth as Sweppenhiser hit a ground rule double, went to third on a sacrifice bunt from Elliott Erbe and scored on a single from Robert Crumpler.

The ninth for Coastal began with a double from junior Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina). He scored when junior Mike Fuentes (Miami, Fla./North Florida C.C.) singled to right center, cutting the lead to one run. After pinch runner Adam Vrable (Bay City, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) stole second, pinch hitter Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) hit a liner to the gap, but Klint Reed was there to make the catch and end Coastal’s eight-game winning streak.

J.J. Hollenbeck earned the win for VMI, going seven innings, striking out five and giving up only three hits and one run. Sophomore Andy DeLaGarza (Ossian, Ind./Norwell) took the loss despite giving up only three hits and three runs in 5.1 innings.

Coastal scattered five hits on the game. Sweppenhiser had two big hits for VMI, who defeated a ranked team for the first time since Feb. 15, 2004.

In game two, the Chants and Keydets traded zeroes until the fourth. Senior Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.) doubled to open the inning. He scored on a run-batted-in single from Morgan. With two outs, Raber had an infield single and Morgan scored on a throwing error by Chad Rice.

VMI came back with a run in the fifth as Matt Smith walked with the bases loaded, scoring Thane Smith. VMI almost tied the game, but a great run and throw from Vrable to gun Jacoby Fields kept Coastal on top.

The Chants added insurance in the eighth when Todd, who reached on a bunt single, was caught in a run down between third base and home plate, but Sweppenhiser’s throw hit Todd and he came across to make it 3-1.

Sophomore Kevin Marrie (Clarksville, Md./River Hill) earned the win, going 6.1 innings, striking out five and giving up three hits and one run. Costanzo earned his seventh save of the season, going 2.1 innings with two strikeouts and no runs.

Todd went 3-for-4 on the game with two runs scored. Morgan added two hits and an RBI. For VMI, Thane Smith had two of the Keydets four hits.

Coastal will now start a six-day, five-game roadtrip Tuesday, March 29, against Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. Game time is at 7:15 p.m., and can be heard on THE TEAM 93.9 FM in Myrtle Beach. VMI is at Virginia March 30 at 7 p.m.