CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University baseball team (4-10) fought back with three runs in the eighth to tie it, but Wake Forest University (11-3) answered with three runs in the top of the ninth to win 8-5 over the Chanticleers March 7 in Conway,S.C.

Wake Forest scored three runs in the third. Casey Sterk walked to open the frame, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. He scored on a groundout from Eric Williams. After a walk to Dustin Hood, Matt Antonelli reached on an error. Hood would score on a double from Allan Dykstra. Antonelli would come across with the third run on a sacrifice fly from Austin Jones.

Coastal would come right back with two runs in the third. Junior Dom Duggan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./John Carroll) singled with one out and moved to second on a walk to junior Brant Peacher (Milton, Fla./Florida State). After a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners, Duggan would score on a wild pitch. Raber then came home on a single from freshman David Anderson (Lexington, S.C./White Knoll).

In the sixth, Wake scored twice on a Sterk RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly from Williams. Coastal then would tie the game in the eighth, sending nine to the plate. Anderson and senior Mike Fuentes (Miami, Fla./North Florida C.C.) walked and both moved up on a wild pitch. Senior Aaron Verrett (Jupiter, Fla./Polk C.C.) hit an infield single that scored Anderson. Senior DJ Burns (Lynn, Mass./Chandler Gilbert J.C.) brought in the second run with a single to center field. With the bases loaded, Verrett scored on a passed ball by the Demon Deacons. Wake would get out of the jam as Peacher grounded into a fielder’s choice.

Wake would quickly answer with three runs in the ninth. Williams walked to open the inning and went to third on a double from Hood. Junior Travis Risser (Palmyra, Pa./James Madison) intentionally walked Antonelli to load the bases, but Williams scored on a wild pitch and Hood came around after an error on the retrieval of the pitch. The third run came around on a passed ball, making it 8-5 Wake.

Risser took the loss for Coastal, going one inning with two strikeouts, one earned run and one hit. Junior John Mariotti (Toronto, Ontario/Gulf Coast C.C.) started for the Chants, going three innings with two hits, two earned runs and five walks. The Chants used five pitchers, while Wake Forest threw six.

Josh Ellis earned the win in relief, pitching two-thirds of an inning with one hit, two walks and one strikeout. Ben Hunter picked up the save in the ninth, his fourth of the season. Kip Byrum started for the Demon Deacons, pitching 3.2 innings, giving up four hits and two runs.

Burns had two hits for CCU. For Wake, Jones had two hits and Williams drove in a pair.

CCU had five errors on the day and left 10 men on base. The Chanticleers did outhit Wake Forest 7-6 and the pitching staff had eight strikeouts.

Coastal will travel to Mobile, Ala., to face South Alabama Friday, March 10, at 7 p.m. EST.