CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team suffered an 8-6 extra innings loss to the Troy Trojans to drop the series at St. John Stadium on Sunday.
The Chants were first to strike in the bottom of the second inning when Clara Hudgens smashed a two-run double to left-center field to give CCU a 2-0 lead.
Troy answered right back in the top of the third inning when an RBI single and a sacrifice fly leveled the score at 2-2.
After two scoreless innings, the Trojans pushed out in front when Cassidy Boltz belted a three-run home run over the centerfield wall to make the score 5-2.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Chants mounted a comeback when Libby Pippin and Delaney Keith hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second base. Riley Zana then stepped up to the plate and ripped a two-run double to centerfield to narrow the gap to 5-4.
Iyanla De Jesus kept the momentum going for the Chants in the top of the seventh when she blooped a single over the shortstop's head to put runners on first and third base. Freshman Hope McDonald then cracked an RBI single to right field to tie the game at 5-5 and send the game into extra innings.
Coastal looked to close out the game in the bottom of the eighth inning after a leadoff single, sacrifice bunt and groundout put pinch runner Payton Ebersole on third base, but the Trojans were able to hold on to keep the score at 5-5.
Troy's bats exploded in the top of the ninth inning when Libby Baker hit a leadoff home run and Kayden Dunn followed with a two-run homer to put the Trojans ahead at 8-5.
CCU tacked on one run in the bottom of the ninth inning when McDonald crushed an RBI double to center field, but the Trojans secured the final out and the 8-6 victory.
Raelee Brabham dropped to 12-4 with the loss after giving up six runs, seven hits, and three walks.
The Chanticleers will be back at St. John Stadium on Wednesday to take on Georgia Tech at 6 p.m. ET.
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (Twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
