CLEMSON, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers fell 4-3 to the No. 6 nationally ranked Clemson Tigers in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Clemson Regional at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday evening. The Chants will take on the High Point Panthers in an elimination game on Sunday.
CCU (35-24) was led by
Caden Bodine (2-for-2, BB), while
Sam Antonacci (1-for-4, HR, R, RBI),
Zack Beach (1-for-4, HR, R, RBI),
Graham Brown (1-for-4, R),
Blake Barthol (0-for-2, BB, RBI),
Derek Bender (1-for-4), and
Dean Mihos (1-for-4) at the plate.
Henry Weycker did not factor in the decision pitched 6.0 innings, and allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts, while
Bryce Shaffer worked 1.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit and striking out two batters.
Cameron Flukey got the loss in 2.0 innings, giving up one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
Clemson's Jacob Hinderleider (5-for-5, 2B, R) and Jack Crighton (2-for-4) with multiple hits, while Cam Cannarella (1-for-3, 3RBI), Jimmy Obertop (1-for-4, BB), and Jarren Purify (1-for4) had one hit each. Tiger starter Aidan Knaak pitched 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out six batters. Relievers Lucas Mahlstedt, Drew Titsworth, and Jacob McGovern worked a combined 2.0 innings, giving up one hit and allowing one run with McGovern (3-0) picking up the win. Austin Gordon pitched the ninth to get his 10th save of the season allowing no runs and hits with two strikeouts.
The Tigers started the scoring in the top of the first inning as Aidan Mathes reached on a Chanticleer miscue before advancing to third on Hinderleider's first hit of the night. Blake Wright plated Mathes with a sac fly to right field to take a 1-0 lead.
Coastal threatened in the bottom half of the inning with back-to-back two-out singles by Bodine and Bender put runners on first and third but was unable to advance further.
In the third inning, Clemson took a 2-0 lead after Mathes, Hinderleider, and Wright reached to load the bases before CCU's Mihos made a diving catch in center field to rob Cannarella of extra bases and only allowed one run to cross the plate. Weycker then enticed a 6-4-3 double play groundout to end the threat.
The Chanticleers cut the lead in half on an Antonacci solo home run to right center to make the score 2-1.
After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, Coastal tied the game at 2-2 after Brown and Bodine singled to put runners on first and third. Barthol reached on a fielder's choice on a safety squeeze that scored Brown.
The Tigers jumped back in front at 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning after Cannarella singled up the middle to plate Hinderleider, who doubled and moved to third on a groundout, from third. Coastal's Beach greeted Tiger reliever Mahlstedt by sending the first pitch he saw over the right field fence to knot the score at 3-3.
Clemson's Mathes was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the ninth inning and moved to third on Hinderleider's fifth hit of the night to put runners on the corners. Cannarella hit his second sac fly of the night to make the score 4-3.
After a pair of strikeouts in the home half of the frame, CCU hit a long fly ball that fell just short of the left field fence for the final out.
Coastal Carolina will take on High Point in an elimination game on Sunday, June 2 at noon 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.
