CONWAY, S.C. — The
Kevin Schnall era got off to a strong start on a chilly Friday at The Palace as Coastal Carolina baseball used a mid-innings offense barrage to beat Saint Joseph's 11-1 in seven innings.
Coastal will utilize the 10-run rule after seven innings for all 2025 home games.
While a rocket shot by
Caden Bodine into the left field skies in the seventh sent the fans home early, it was a six-run sixth inning proved to be the difference.
Freddy Rodriguez led off with a walk and advanced on a liner to left by
Dean Mihos. Bodine walked on four pitches and SJU went to the bullpen.
Blake Barthol was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Kaleb Huffman struck out looking for the second out of the inning ahead of a
Blagen Pado walk to score Rodriguez.
Colby Thorndyke was next at the dish and he ripped a single to right to plate two runners.
Wells Sykes hit a double off the base of the right-field wall to score Pado ahead of
Ty Dooley with a double the other way to score two more. The Chants had batted around at this point and a Rodriguez strikeout ended the threat.
Schnall, the longtime Chanticleers assistant, picked up his first career win from the top step of the Spring Brooks Stadium dugout and was surprised in the locker room postgame by Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and University Recreation
Chance Miller with a game ball presentation.
The outcome could have been flipped as Saint Joseph's (0-1) loaded the bases in both the second and third innings, but only tallying a single run off a wild pitch.
The Chanticleers got on the board in the bottom of the inning with three runs to take a 3-1 lead.
Mihos led off with a walk and later scored on a double by Huffman. Barthol drew a walk and scored with Huffman on an error which saw Pado reach with one out.
Hayden Johnson picked up the win for the Chanticleers, allowing a hit and two walks in three and two-thirds innings in relief of starter Cullen McKay. Frank Ciccone took the loss, allowing four runs, two of them earned, on three hits in three and two-thirds.
UP NEXT
Baseball at the Beach continues Saturday with a slightly altered schedule. Due to incoming weather, Saint Joseph's and Washington will start at 10 a.m., followed by Coastal and Kansas State at 2:30 p.m.
All of CCU's games this weekend will air on ESPN+ and the Chanticleer Sports Network.
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.
