TROY, Ala. – The 14th-ranked Coastal Carolina University baseball team (28-5) lost its second heartbreaker in a row as the Chanticleers gave up three runs in the ninth in a 7-6 loss to Troy (19-14) April 8 in Troy, Ala. Coastal falls in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Leading 6-4 heading into the ninth, senior Travis Risser (Palmyra, Pa./James Madison) walked Ian Craze to open the inning. Edgar Ramirez looked to hit into a double play, but senior Adam Vrable (Bay City, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.) tripped on the bag at second, getting just one Trojan out. Risser walked Robinson and the Chanticleers went to sophomore Pete Andrelczyk (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Twp.). Kevin Weidlich then hit a fly ball to the left field line that sophomore David Sappelt (Saxapahaw, N.C./Graham) doved and almost grabbed, but ended up a double that scored Ramriez. CCU intentionally walked Trevor Tyre, but Steven Felix singled to center to score two runs and end the game.

Troy scored two runs in the second inning. Trevor Tyre reached on a throwing error by Vrable and went to second as Vrable’s throw went into the Coastal dugout. Senior John Mariotti (Toronto, Ontario/Gulf Coast C.C.) then walked Matt Tanzi and gave up a single to Bryan Miller to load the bases. It looked as if Mariotti would get out of the jam as he induced a double play by Shohei Fujita, but Beau Brooks singled to score two runs for the early lead.

Coastal got out of a jam in the fifth. Edgar Ramirez walked and Clint Robinson singled to put runners on first and second with no one out. Mariotti got Kevin Weidlich to ground into a double play and struck out Trevor Tyre to end the inning.

Coastal’s bats struck in the seventh. Senior Matt Rademacher (Bay City, Mich./Michigan) opened the inning with a single. After Clegg Snipes struck out the next two Chanticleers, sophomore Tyler Bortnick (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) and Vrable hit back-to-back singles. That set the table for Sappelt, who drilled a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right field for a grand slam. It was his fourth home run of the year and was Coastal’s second grand slam of the season. Senior Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) hit a grand slam against Marist March 3.

Troy would quickly tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Beau Brooks led off the inning with a solo home run off of sophomore Kent Altman (Conway, S.C./Conway). With one out, Ramirez reached on an error. He went to second on a single from Robinson. Ramirez scored on a double from Weidlich to tie the game. Troy loaded the bases with one out, but Risser induced a double play by Tyre to end the inning.

In the top of the eighth, Raber led off with a fisted single to center. He scored on a long home run from junior Tommy Baldridge (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill), his seventh of the season.

Andrelczyk took the loss for Coastal, giving up the winning run. Mariotti gave up seven hits and two runs in six innings, while striking out three. Josh Dew earned the win in relief, raising his record to 5-0. Snipes struck out 12 in seven innings.

Sappelt had three hits to lead Coastal, while Baldridge and Bortnick had two hits apiece. For Troy, Weidlich was 3-for-5.

Coastal will head back to Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field Wednesday, April 11 against Wake Forest at 6 p.m. Coastal will retire former Chanticleer Kirt Manwaring’s number during the game.