March 7, 2010

Box Score

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The eighth-ranked Coastal Carolina University baseball team (10-1) took advantage of two throwing errors in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie and give the Chants a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Ball State (3-7) March 7 as part of the Caravelle Resort Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Coastal only had four hits on the day, but all three runs were unearned due to five Cardinal errors.

Ball State put up two runs in the top of the first. Cody Elliott reached on an infield single to open the game. He went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Ryan Chenoweth and scored on a Kolbrin Vitek double. Vitek would move to second on a Zach Dygert single and scored on a fielder's choice by Ian Nielsen.

Junior Matt Laney was in a jam in the top of the second as he walked T.J. Baumet, and then had a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt from Stephen Claypool. Laney would escape trouble as he picked off Baumet, struck out Kirby Campbell and got Elliott to fly out to end the frame.

Coastal would come back to score two unearned runs in the fourth. Senior Jose Iglesias continued his hot hitting, opening up the inning with a double to left. After Morgan Coombs retired the next two batters, senior Adam Rice reached on an error as Claypoll slipped on the throw. Redshirt-sophomore Rich Witten then reached on an error to score Iglesias. Junior Luke Schlechte would then single for his first hit as a Chant, scoring Rice and tying the game at 2-2.

The Chants would get out of another jam in the fifth. Laney gave up an infield single to Campbell and walked Elliott. With a 2-0 count, freshman Ryan Connolly came and got Chenoweth to ground out, putting runners on second and third with one out. Connolly would then strike out Vitek swinging and Dygert looking to end the threat.

Coastal looked to take the lead in the sixth as sophomore Daniel Bowman and Rice singled with one out. Witten moved Bowman over to third on a fly out and the Chants loaded the bases when Schlechte walked. Coastal could not get the go-ahead run home as Motter fouled out to end the inning.

Junior Matt Rein kept the Cardinals at bay for three innings, helping the Chants set up the game-winner in the eighth. With one out, Bowman reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and went to second when the ball went into the dugout. Rice then grounded to short and was safe on another throwing error, scoring Bowman.

In the ninth, redshirt-senior Austin Fleet gave up a single to Kory Benbow and walked Baumet. Tim Issler sacrificed both runners over, but Fleet beared down to strike out Campbell swinging and Elliott looking to end the game.

Schlechte had the Chants only RBI of the game. He also walked twice. Iglesias, Bowman and Rice also had hits for the Chants. For Ball State, Vitek was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Rein earned his third win of the year, striking out three and giving up just two hits in three innings of work. Connolly also struck out a pair in an inning of work. Laney gave up four hits and two runs with four strikeouts in four innings pitched.

Morgan Coombs was the hard-luck loser. He struck out five and gave up four hits and three unearned runs in 7.1 innings.

Coastal and Ball State will conclude the Caravelle Resort Invitational Monday, March 8 at 4 p.m, at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field.