March 7, 2012

Final Stats

CONWAY - Tripp Martin had a career day, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI, while Justin Creel and Rich Witten each added three hits to lead Coastal Carolina to a 10-4 win over Toledo Wednesday afternoon in the first game of a mixed doubleheader. In game two, the Chants will play host to UNC Wilmington.

Coastal tallied a season-high 13 hits and 10 runs. Also, the Chants entered the game with just four doubles through their first eight games, but hit three in one inning Wednesday and finished with four for the contest.

The Chants took an early 2-0 lead in the first. With one out, Creel and Witten delivered back-to-back singles. After a passed ball moved the two runners up 90 feet, Daniel Bowman, who had two hits, drove in Creel with an RBI ground out. Tucker Frawley followed with an RBI single to left field.

Toledo took advantage of a CCU error to take a 4-2 lead in the top of third. Dan Zuchowski had a leadoff single and A.J. DeMarco walked. Jacob North hit what looked to be a ground out and possible double play, but an error at second loaded the bases with no outs. CCU starter Javier Reynoso got a pair of ground outs, retiring the runners at home but keeping the bases loaded for cleanup hitter Mark Lapikas, who cleared the bases with a grand slam.

Coastal responded by sending 10 men to the plate and scored six runs in the home half of the third to take a 8-4 lead. With runners on first and second, Sloan Gilliam reached on an error, allowing Frawley to score on the play. After an Alex Buccilli bloop single down the left field line loaded the bases, Martin hit a three-run double. With two out, Creel traded places with Martin with an RBI single. Witten capped the inning with an RBI single to center.

In the seventh, Coastal used three walks and a bloop single produced a run. With one out, Martin and Ted Blackman walked with Creel loading the bases with a single to center. Witten forced home Martin with an RBI walk. With two out and the bases loaded, Frawley's ground ball was not fielded cleanly, allowing Blackman to score for a 10-4 lead.

Reynoso (1-0) was credited with the win, getting his first win as a collegian by pitching a predetermined three innings. He allowed two hits, one being a grand slam, but no earned runs with a walk. Patrick Corbett pitched the middle three innings, allowing no hits, runs or walks with three strikeouts. Freshman Chris Harrison picked up his first career save, allowing one hit, no runs and one walk with two strikeouts over the final three innings.

Alec Schmenk (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing four hits and four runs (two earned) in 0.2 innings.