The 23rd-ranked Coastal Carolina University baseball team (23-7) took the rubber game against Texas-Pan American (10-23) 8-6 April 3 in Edinburg, Texas. Coastal scored two runs in the first, third and fourth innings and allowed only five singles past the third frame.

Coastal scored two runs in the top of the first. Senior Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.) singled to start the game and moved to second on a walk to sophomore Dom Duggan (Cranberry Twp., Pa/John Carroll). Both runners moved up on a wild pitch by UTPA starter Bobby Gomez. Todd scored on an RBI groundout from sophomore Danny Morgan (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Christian) and Duggan came across on a single up the middle from junior Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina).

The Broncs came right back with two unearned runs in the bottom of the first. Louie Alamia opened with a double to left field. After senior Jake Hurry (East Moline, Ill./Alleman) struck out J.P. Mackie and forced Zach Gordon to pop up, Mark Rodriguez reached on a throwing error from sophomore Adam Vrable (Bay City, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.), scoring Alamia. Otis Powers then doubled to right field, scoring Rodriguez.

Coastal put up a two spot in the third to take a 4-2 lead. Junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) doubled to the left field gap, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single through the left side by Morgan. Morgan stole second and scored on a single up the middle from senior Jon Foisy (Ridgecrest, Calif./Cerro Coso C.C.).

Pan American scored three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-4 lead. The inning was highlighted by a two-run home run from Ricky Broyles. Powers also had his second double of the game that scored Rodriguez.

Coastal put up two runs in the fourth with the help of two Bronc errors. Junior Mike Fuentes (Miami, Fla./North Florida C.C.) singled back to the pitcher to start the frame. Vrable then sacrificed him to second, but a throwing error by Kelly Casares put runners on second and third. Fuentes scored on a groundout from Todd and Vrable came home on a throwing error trying to get Duggan out at first.

Duggan continued his hot hitting, drilling a home run to left field to give the Chants a 7-5 lead in the top of the sixth. It was his first home run of the season.

UTPA cut the lead to one in the bottom of the sixth. Aaron Flowers singled to open the inning and moved to second on a wild throw from Vrable. Flowers scored on a single from Alamia. UTPA had the tying run on third with two outs, but junior Ricky Shefka (Kinston, N.C./East Carolina) enduced Rodriguez to ground out to second.

Coastal scored a run without a hit in the eighth. Junior Kevin Entsminger (Canton, Mich./College of the Siskiyous) was hit by a pitch to open the inning. He moved to second on a passed ball and scored when Todd’s sacrifice bunt was thrown away by Casares.

Shefka earned the win in his first relief appearance of the season. He went 4.2 innings, giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out a Bronc and improving his record to 5-1 on the year. Costanzo earned his eighth save of the year with four strikeouts in two innings. He still has not given up an earned run this season. Casares fell to 1-2 on the year, going 4.1 innings with six strikeouts and only one earned run.

Coastal pounded out 12 hits in the game, as Morgan, DeJesus, Foisy and Fuentes had two hits apiece. Morgan also drove in two on the day. Powers and Flowers had three hits apiece for UTPA.

Coastal returns home Tuesday, April 5, to play nationally-ranked College of Charleston at 6 p.m., at Charles Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field.