Post-Game Interviews -- Coastal Carolina / Columbia

 

CONWAY, S.C. – Top-seeded Coastal Carolina scored three runs in the top of the fifth and then added six more in the eighth as the Chanticleers powered their way to a 10-2 victory over fourth-seeded Columbia in the first game of the 2008 NCAA Baseball Conway Regional Friday, May 30 at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field. With the win, Coastal advances to play the winner of the East Carolina/Alabama game at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 31. Columbia will face the loser of the East Carolina/Alabama game at 1 p.m., on Saturday.

 

Columbia jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third with a Mike Malfettone lead-off home run to right field.

 

Coastal answered in the bottom half of the third. With one out, Scott Woodward singled up the middle and then advanced to third off David Sappelt’s hit up the middle. A Dock Doyle sacrifice fly to right field was deep enough to allow Woodward to score the game-tying run.

 

In the fifth and with one out, Woodward and Sappelt hit back-to-back infield singles. Woodward scored the go-ahead run from second base and Sappelt advanced to third as Doyle sent a single to right field, but on the same play, Doyle was chased down and tagged out by Henry Perkins for the second out of the inning. Coastal increased its lead to two when Sappelt scored on a wild pitch. David Anderson made it a 4-1 game as he blasted a solo shot to right field for his 18th home run of the season.

 

All of Coastal’s six runs in the eighth inning came with one out. Chance Gilmore started Coastal’s offense with a one-out single through the right side. Rico Noel reached based after being hit by a pitch. A Woodward walk loaded the bases for Sappelt, who reached first on a Columbia miscue that also allowed Gilmore to score. A bases-loaded walk to Doyle scored Noel to put Coastal up 6-1. In the next at-bat, Anderson sent a two-run single to center field that allowed for both Woodward and Sappelt to cross home, while Doyle reached third on a Lion fielding error and Anderson moved to second on the throw. Tommy Baldridge’s single down the right field line drove in both Doyle and Anderson as Coastal held a 10-1 advantage.

 

The Lions began to cut into the Coastal’s lead in the ninth. Alex Ferrera sent a lead-off double to right center and then scored on a Nick Cox single up the middle. Cox went on to steal second. Then with one out, Perkins’ single through the left side moved Cox to third, but Ron Williams grounded into a 5-4-3 double play in the next at-bat to end the game.

 

Nick McCully (10-2) pitched a two-hitter through eight innings for the win, giving up just one run and striking out five. McCully also retired the last 17 batters he faced. Billy Purdy (4-5) had the loss after allowing four runs off eight hits in 4.2 innings.

 

Sappelt, Woodward, Doyle and Anderson all registered multiple hits. Sappelt led the Chants with three this, while Woodward, Doyle and Anderson each had two. Woodward also scored three runs and Doyle and Anderson each recorded three RBI.

 

Ferrera led the Lions, going 2-for-3 at the plate.