CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University baseball team (4-0) used the long ball early and, despite giving up four runs in the last two innings, hung on to defeat UNC Wilmington (0-4) 8-6 Feb. 14 in Conway, S.C. Coastal is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 2002 season.

Sophomore David Sappelt (Saxapahaw, N.C./Graham), who was named the Big South Player of the Week earlier in the day, belted a shot to left for his first home run of the season in the first innning. Senior Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) walked with one out and moved to third on two wild pitches from Seth Frankoff. Junior Tommy Baldridge (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill) brought Raber home with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 Coastal after one inning.

Sophomore David Anderson (Lexington, S.C./White Knoll) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the third, getting Steve Halford to ground into a double play with one out. Anderson then helped his own cause by homering to lead off the bottom of the third giving the Chanticleers a 3-0 lead.

The game would stay 3-0 until the sixth when the Seahawks scored a pair. Daniel Hargrave singled and moved to second on a hit by pitch to Halford. Jonathan Batts grounded into a double play, but Mark Carver singled in Hargrave. A wind-blown single by Jes Snyder put runners on first and third. Pinch hiter Shane French then singled to center to bring home Carver.

Coastal used the long ball again in the seventh as Baldridge went opposite field to make it 4-2 Coastal. UNCW made it a one-run game in the top of the eighth when Batts homered to right field.

The Chants scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the inning. Sappelt opened the frame with an infield single. He was sacrificed by senior Dom Duggan (Cranberry Twp., Pa./John Carroll). The Seahawks intentionally walked Raber. Anderson then hit a grounder that got past Snyder for an error, scoring Sappelt. With two outs, sophomore Dock Doyle (Conway, S.C./Conway) reached on an infield single, but Hargrave’s throw to first was wild, scoring Raber. Anderson then scored on an error by pitcher Larry Salefsky. Junior Derek Martin (Barnwell, S.C./Barnwell) brought in the eighth run of the game on a single up the middle.

Wilmington made it interesting in the ninth. French singled up the middle to open the inning. Junior Keith Noe (San Marcos, Calif./Palomar J.C.) struck out Matt Hall, but pinch hitter Rhett Miller singled to put two runners on. Grayson Evans doubled in a run to make it 8-4. Senior Travis Risser (Palmyra, Pa./James Madison) was brought in and got Hargrave to ground out, scoring Miller. Halford then singled home Evans to make it 8-6. Batts walked to put the go-ahead run at the plate, but Risser got Carver to fly out to end the game.

Anderson earned his second win of the season, going 2.1 innings and allowing only one hit while striking out two. Anderson came in emergency relief for freshman starter Nick McCully (Lakeland, Fla./Santa Fe Catholic), who had to leave the game in the second inning. Coastal used seven pitchers on the night, as Risser earned his second save of the season.

Frankoff took the loss for UNCW. He went 2.1 innings, allowing three runs and five hits while walking four.

Sappelt had three hits for Coastal, while Baldridge drove in a pair. Doyle and Martin had two hits apiece. For the Seahawks, Carver and French had two hits apiece.

Coastal hosts the IMIChotels.com INN-vitational Friday, Feb. 16 as the Chants take on Pittsburgh at 3 p.m.