Final Stats

CONWAY - Coastal Carolina hit three home runs, including two in the decisive eighth inning, to claim a 4-2 victory over Presbyterian College Saturday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.

The 19th-ranked Chanticleers (26-10, 10-1 Big South) won their sixth straight and are 13-1 over their last 14 contests. The Blue Hose fall to 18-16, 5-6. The teams will conclude the series on Sunday with first pitch set for 2 pm.

The game came down to a big defensive play by CCU in the top of the eighth and the two home runs in the bottom half.

In the top of the eighth, Presbyterian put two runners on base with one out and the game tied 2-2. Coastal turned to its closer Mike Morrison, who got a ground ball back to him. Michael Paez made a nice play on the ball thrown to him by Morrison and the CCU shortstop completed the double play with a strong throw to first base to end the threat.

Coastal rode that momentum in the bottom of the eighth. G.K. Young drilled the second pitch he saw out of the confines of Springs Brooks Stadium for his ninth home run of the season. Two batters later, Connor Owings extended his hit streak to 15 games with a solo home run to right. The senior now has seven home runs for the season.

Morrison (5-0) struck out the side in the ninth to get the win. The senior has now pitched 30.1 innings spanning 15 appearances without allowing an earned run (one total) and getting 45 strikeouts. For the season, he is 5-0 with four saves and has posted a 0.51 ERA in 17 appearances (35.0 innings), allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out 48.

The Blue Hose were in control through the first four innings. They used a double steal to get on the scoreboard first. Peter Johnson started the second inning with a walk and moved to third on a bloop single by A.J. Priaulx. With two outs and two strikes on Nick Guimbarda, Priaulx took off for second and, on the throw down, Johnson broke home and slid in under the tag. CCU starter Bobby Holmes struck out Guimbarda on the next pitch to end the inning.

The bottom of the PC lineup produced another run in the fourth inning. With two outs, Priaulx, Rob Koski and Guimbarda had consecutive singles to give the visitors a 4-2 lead

Coastal cut its deficit to one, 2-1, in the fifth inning. Seth Lancaster hit a two-out home run to right field for his third round-tripper of the season.

The Chants tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the seventh. Billy Cooke (2-for-4) hit a double down the left field line and has now reached base safely in 26 consecutive games. Matt Beaird lined an RBI single to right field to score Cooke and setup the dramatic eighth inning.

Holmes pitched well but did not factor in the decision. The sophomore scattered six hits over seven complete while getting seven strikeouts.

Tanner Chock kept CCU's bats silent most of the game before exiting with one out in the seventh. He allowed four hits and two runs with five strikeouts. Colton Springs (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing the two home runs in the eighth.