March 18, 2012

Final Stats

CONWAY - Coastal Carolina's Daniel Bowman hit a two-run home run to break up a no hitter with one out in the sixth inning and the Chanticleers (13-6) would cruise to a 7-0 win over UAB (13-7) Sunday afternoon at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field.

Bowman and Rich Witten would each score twice and finish with two hits with Bowman having two RBI and Witten one. In addition to Bowman's home run, Coastal got a big day from late add to the lineup Chris Suseck. The freshman third baseman drove in three and made two key defensive plays in the win.

CCU starter Austin Wallace avoided trouble in the first and third innings. In the first, leadoff hitter Ryan Ussery, who had two of UAB's four hits in the contest, hit the first pitch of the game down the left field line for a double. After a sacrifice bunt moved Ussery to third, John Frost lined out to third and CCU third baseman tagged third to turn a double play and end the inning. In the third, UAB put runners on second and third with one out, but Wallace got a pop out and a strikeout to escape once again.

Wallace would pitch five complete, leaving with the game tied at zero. He allowed two hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

UAB starter Michael Busby (0-1) did not allow a hit until the one out in the sixth. However, Coastal was not without its chances prior to the hit as Busby hit three batters and walked two while one Chant reached on an error.

The first hit for Coastal would be Bowman's two-run home run, which was drilled on the first pitch over the left field wall. The blast plated Alex Buccilli, who had drawn the second walk of the day by CCU, and marked Bowman's 42nd career round tripper. Witten followed with a sharp single off the left field wall and, after a strikeout, UAB intentionally walked Ted Blackman. Suseck made the Blazers pay with a two-run double, ending Busby's day. Busby's line included 5.2 innings pitched with three hits, four runs, three walks and five strikeouts.

UAB threatened in the top of the seventh, getting runners on second and third with two out. Coastal relief pitcher Devin Bradley (1-0) escaped unscathed by getting a pop out. Bradley pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits with two strikeouts, to earn his first win as a Chanticleer.

In the home half of the seventh, Coastal padded its lead, scoring three times to take a 7-0 lead. Justin Creel had a leadoff single, moved to second on a ground out and advanced to third on a Bowman single. Witten brought home Creel with an RBI infield single. The Chants would load the bases when Tucker Frawley walked. New UAB pitcher Chase Mallard walked the first batter he faced, Blackman to force in a run and Suseck followed with an RBI fielder's choice.

With Witten's two hits and Frawley drawing a walk, the two senior captains have now reached base safely (hit/walk/hit by pitch) in 16 consecutive games.

Coastal Carolina will take four days off before returning to action. The Chants will host a three-game set with Albany, March 23-25, to conclude the team's 22-game home stand to start the 2012 season.