The 25th-ranked Coastal Carolina University baseball team (31-9, 11-2 Big South) won its seventh straight contest with an 11-3 victory over Liberty University (23-12, 7-6 Big South) April 22 in the Big South series opener. Coastal scored six runs in the first two innings and was aided by 13 walks from Flames’ pitching.

Senior Jon Foisy (Ridgecrest, Calif./Cerro Coso C.C.) drove in two runs in the first on a double, scoring junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and senior Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.). Coastal then exploded for four runs in the second. Junior Kevin Entsminger (Canton, Mich./College of the Siskiyous) started the frame with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Josh Eachues (Newberry, S.C./Newberry). After walks to sophomore Adam Vrable (Bay City, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) and Todd, sophomore Dom Duggan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Archbishop Carroll) brought in Entsminger on a sacrifice fly. Liberty reliever Todd Mittauer intentionally walked Costanzo, but with the bases loaded walked junior Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina) to bring in Vrable. Foisy then had an RBI infield single and junior Aaron Verrett (Jupiter, Fla./Polk C.C.) was hit by a pitch to force in Costanzo.

Coastal scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth as DeJesus scored on a fielding error from Chad Miller off Entsminger’s bat. In the seventh, the Chants put a two spot up as Costanzo drove in his 37th and 38th runs of the season with a single to right center.

Liberty scored two runs in the top of the eighth, which included P.K. Keller’s fifth home run of the year. Coastal quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Foisy walked to start the frame and moved to second on a Verrett single. With two outs, freshman Dock Doyle (Conway, S.C./Conway) plated them both on a single to right.

The Flames would add a run on their second home run of the game, this one from Abe Yeakel.

Junior Ricky Shefka (Kinston, N.C./Old Dominion) gave up only one earned run in eight innings to improve to 8-1. He struck out six and walked one, dropping his earned run average to 1.67. The loss went to David Bechtold, who was injured when a DeJesus line drive came right back at him in the first. He continued to pitch, but left with one out in the second.

Foisy and Costanzo had two hits apiece for Coastal. Foisy also brought in three runs, while Costanzo and Doyle drove in two apiece. Aaron Grijalva had three hits for Liberty, who outhit the Chanticleers 11-8.

Coastal and Liberty will continue its series Saturday, April 23, with a new start time due to weather. The game will begin at 4 p.m. at Charles Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field.