STATESBORO, GA. – The No. 20 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers run-ruled the Georgia Southern Eagles 16-4 in eight innings in Statesboro, Ga., to clinch the Sun Belt Conference series on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Chanticleers scored six runs in the fifth and eighth innings as Sam Antonacci (2-for-4, HR, BB, 4Rs, RBI), Zack Beach (2-for-5, HR, 3Rs, 4RBIs), and Dean Mihos (1-for-4, HR, R, 3RBIs) hit home runs on the day. Mihos's three-run blast was the first of the season, while Antonacci's solo shot was number two in the year and Beach's moon shot was his 13th this year.
 
CCU starter Henry Weycker, who did not factor in the decision, worked 3.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Alexander Meckley (4-3) picked up the win, going 2.2 innings and allowing no runs on one hit with one strikeout. Parker Cassell got the final outs of the game, enticing a 4-3 double play on just five pitches.
 
Coastal Carolina (24-11, 9-6 SBC) opened the scoring in the top of the first as Antonacci reached first on a check-swing single and scored on a triple by Derek Bender to take the early 1-0 lead. In the home half of the frame, the Chants' Weycker faced the minimum after getting Jarrett Brown to ground into a 6-4-3 double play after a one-out single by Sam Blancato (2-for-3, BB, R).
 
After the second inning only saw one hit between both teams, the Chanticleers added to their score after back-to-back singles by Blake Barthol (3-for-5, 2B, 3Rs, 3RBIs) and Caden Bodine (2-for-4, BB, 2Rs, RBI) put runners on the corners. Graham Brown followed with a fielder's choice to the shortstop that allowed Barthol to make the score 2-0 after three.
 
Georgia Southern (19-17, 9-6 SBC) took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Blancato hit a lead-off double to right center and moved to third on Kent Schmidt's single. Blancato scored on a wild pitch before JD Kaiser hit a two-run homer to right field for a 3-2 lead.
 
In the fifth, the Chanticleers responded to retake the lead as Antonacci led off the inning with a solo shot to tie the game at 3-3. Barthol singled and advanced to second on the four-pitch walk to Bodine. Brown singled up the middle to score Barthol and chase Eagle starter Ty Fisher (5-3). Chad Born greeted the new Georgia Southern arm with a single through the left side before being forced out at second on an RBI grounder by Beach. Mihos followed with his first home run of the season, a three-run shot over the left-field wall to take an 8-3 lead. The Eagles' Josh Tate drew a one-out walk and forced Coastal to make a call to the bullpen. CCU's Meckley loaded the bases before settling in and getting the final two outs with no damage done.
 
Coastal's Antonacci reached first after getting hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth inning. After stealing second, the Springfield, Ill., native scored on back-to-back wild pitches by the Eagles' pitching staff to make the score 9-3.
 
In the top of the seventh, Beach hit his 13th homer of the season to record his fourth RBI. In the home half of the frame, Georgia Southern put runners on second and third before the Chants got out of the inning with the 9-3 lead intact.
 
The Chanticleers scored their final six runs in the top of the eighth with two outs as Barthol doubled down the line to score Antonacci, who walked and stole second. Bodine followed with a single through the left side to beat the shift and plate Barthol. Bodine moved to second on a wild pitch followed by back-to-back walks to Brown and Ty Dooley. Bodine crossed the plate on a wild pitch and both trail runners moved into scoring position. Beach singled through the right side to score Brown and Dooley before Corey Zientek doubled to right field to close out the Chants' scoring.
 
Georgia Southern's bottom half of the eighth began with Kaiser and pinch hitter Sean Smith reaching base. With runners on first and second, Corey Dowdell singled up the middle to plate Kaiser. After a walk, the Chants went to the bullpen and called in Cassell. Cassell enticed a 4-3 double play to end the game.
 
Coastal Carolina will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., for a midweek matchup with the North Carolina Tarheels on Tuesday, April 16. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. The games will be streamed on ACCNX.
 
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.