TROY, Ala. — No. 16 Coastal Carolina saw a 4-1 lead slip away as No. 18 Troy erupted for eight unanswered runs across the sixth and seventh innings, handing the Chanticleers a 9-5 loss Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field in the Sun Belt series rubber game.

The Chanticleers (17-7, 4-2 SBC) appeared in control after a four-run third inning, sparked by back-to-back home runs from Wells Sykes and Ty Dooley. Sykes crushed a two-run shot to left — his second of the year — before Dooley followed with a solo homer on the very next pitch. Blake Barthol's RBI single extended the lead to 4-1.

Starter Riley Eikhoff cruised through the first five innings but ran into trouble in the sixth, allowing a two-out rally that included three home runs and tied the game at 4-4. Troy (18-6, 4-2 SBC) then took command in the seventh when Harrison Bowman launched a grand slam off reliever Matthew Potok, flipping the game in the Trojans' favor for good.

Eikhoff (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing five earned runs on eight hits while striking out six. Potok was charged with two runs in one inning of relief, while Hayden Johnson also surrendered two runs in a brief appearance.

Coastal outhit Troy 12-9 through five innings but couldn't capitalize on several late opportunities. Walker Mitchell finished 3-for-4, and Barthol added two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Dooley and Sykes each had two hits, while Sebastian Alexander doubled and stole his eighth base of the season.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Coastal is in the middle of its longest road trip of the season. Following Sunday's game at Troy (1 p.m.), the Chants head to No. 4 Clemson (March 25) and Texas State (March 28-30) before finally returning home to play a return game with Campbell on Tuesday, April 1 at 6 p.m. inside Springs Brooks Stadium.
 
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