CONWAY, S.C. – In a rematch of the 2023 Conway Regional championship, No. 18-ranked Coastal Carolina fell to No. 12-ranked Duke, 5-3, in front of 3,303 fans on Sunday night at Spring Brooks Stadium.  
 
The ninth-largest crowd in Spring Brooks Stadium history saw Coastal (1-2) fall behind on the first pitch as Duke (3-0) took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run. The Chanticleers answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first as Blake Barthol reached second on a Blue Devil two base error and came around to score on a Caden Bodine single.

The Blue Devils took a lead they would not relinquish in the top of the third, plating three runs to move ahead 4-1. CCU cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth as Graham Brown drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a muffed pickoff attempt, then stole third before trotting home on a sacrifice fly from Jake Books.

Duke tacked an insurance run on the sixth inning, but the Chants answered yet again when Sam Antonacci singled and took advantage of three wild pitches to make the score 5-3. However, Antonucci's base knock would be Coastal's final hit of the night as the Chanticleers went down in order in the eighth and ninth.

Coastal's Ryan Lynch (0-1) took the loss as the junior right-handed pitcher went 3.0 innings allowing four runs on six hits. Duke's Aiden Weaver (1-0) picked up the win by allowing one run on three hits over 2.1 innings, as the Blue Devils used six arms on the night. Charlie Beilenson earned his first save of the year over the final 2.1 innings without giving up a hit and striking out two.
 
The Chanticleers will host regional rival UNCW in a midweek tilt on Tuesday, Feb. 20, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
 
For complete coverage of CCU baseball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalBaseball (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUsports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.