Final Stats

CONWAY - David Parrett drove in three while four Chanticleers had at least two hits to lead #22 Coastal Carolina to a 10-4 victory versus Illinois Saturday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.

The Chanticleers (8-7) and Fighting Illini (6-6) will meet again Sunday morning with first pitch set for 10:30 am, which is a change from the original schedule. Coastal will then host UNC Greensboro Sunday afternoon at 3pm.

Parrett was officially 0-for-1 at the plate but had two sacrifice flies and a safety squeeze bunt to account for his three RBI. Connor Owings was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Michael Paez, Billy Cooke and Zach Remillard each contributed two each.

Remillard gave Coastal a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a two-out, solo home run to left field to mark his sixth blast of the season.

In the fourth inning, the Chanticleers scored four runs to take a 5-0 lead. CCU loaded the bases on a Kevin Woodall Jr. walk, an Owings single and a Cameron Pearcey infield single. Parrett brought home Woodall with a sacrifice fly to right field. Owings and Pearcey both moved up 90 feet on an Anthony Marks bunt and Michael Paez followed with an RBI, infield single. Cooke then plated Pearcey and moved Paez to third with an RBI single to right center field. On the next pitch, Cooke deliberately got caught in a run-down trying to steal second, which allowed Paez to score on the play.

Illinois got on the scoreboard with three runs in the fifth inning. Pat McInerney hit a leadoff home run. The Illini would go on to load the bases after a walk and two singles. Adam Walton reached on an RBI ground out which allowed Matthew James to score. Trent Hammond later scored on a passed ball. Bobby Holmes (1-1) came out of the bullpen to record a strikeout and limit the damage.

Coastal Carolina took advantage of three errors to answer with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Remillard started the home half with a bunt single. Two batters later, Woodall walked. Ownings reached on an error, which allowed Remillard to score from second base. Woodall moved to third when Pearcey reached on an error and, for the second time in the game, Woodall scored on a sacrifice fly from Parrett.

The Illini cut their deficit to three, 7-4, in the top of seventh. Michael Hurwitz drew a leadoff walk and, with two outs, advanced to third on a single by Anthony Drago. Doran Turchin followed with an RBI double to drive in Hurwitz.

The Chants responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Young had a leadoff single and Woodall was hit by a pitch. Owings laid down a bunt and a throwing error on the play allowed Young to score while Woodall and Owings moved to third and second, respectively. Two batters later, Parrett executed a safety squeeze to score Woodall. After a walk to Marks, Paez lined a single through the left side to bring home Owings.

Illinois threatened in both the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth, the Illini loaded the bases with no outs before Holmes recorded two strikeouts and a ground out. With one out in the ninth, Illinois once again loaded the bases before CCU freshman Austin Kitchen came through with two strikeouts to end the game.

Holmes was credited with the win as he struck out a career-high seven batters in 3.1 innings. (His previous high was six K's in 3.1 innings versus Clemson last season.) Holmes allowed four hits, one run and four walks. Cole Schaefer pitched well for the fourth time in four starts this season, but has yet to factor in the decision. Today, he lasted 4.2 innings and surrendered four hits and three runs (two earned) with two walks and four strikeouts.