CONWAY, S.C. — One night after the teams combined for 25 runs, it was a single score, plated on a
Sebastian Alexander SAC fly that scored
Wells Sykes in the bottom of the eighth which made the difference as Coastal Carolina University Baseball won the Conway NCAA Regional Saturday, 1-0 over ECU, in front of a Springs Brooks Stadium record crowd of 6,450.
The Chanticleers (51-11) won their 21st-straight game overall and 13th-straight game at Springs Brooks Stadium to advance to the Super Regionals for the fourth time in program history and first since 2016. The Conway Regional matched up with the Auburn Regional, but games in Auburn were still going as of this article publishing.
Stay tuned to GoCCUSports.com, the Chanticleers social media accounts and the Chanticleer Mobile App for the latest on Coastal Carolina in the Super Regionals this week.
The low-scoring affair featured standout pitching on both sides, highlighted by a combined shutout from Coastal's
Riley Eikhoff and
Dominick Carbone. Eikhoff scattered five hits and struck out five across 7.1 scoreless innings, while Carbone retired all five batters he faced — three via strikeout — to improve to 6-0 on the season.
Wells Sykes sparked the go-ahead rally with a leadoff single in the eighth, stole second, and moved to third on a flyout before scoring on Alexander's deep fly to center. It was Coastal's first 1-0 victory since May 13, 2018, against UALR.
Bradley Zayac was the hard-luck loser for East Carolina (35-27), allowing just one run on four hits over 7.1 innings.
Coastal will now face the winner of the Auburn Regional in the upcoming NCAA Super Regionals.
CCU's Conway Regional Game Results:
- Game 1: Coastal Carolina 10, Fairfield 2
- Game 2: Coastal Carolina 18, East Carolina 7
- Championship: Coastal Carolina 1, East Carolina 0
Coastal Carolina All-Tournament Selections:
Notebook:
Historic Night at Springs Brooks: Sunday marked Coastal Carolina's first NCAA Super Regional berth since 2016, when the Chants went on to win the College World Series. The program previously reached Supers in 2008, 2010 and 2016. The victory was the program's first 1-0 result in more than seven years — last achieved against UALR on May 13, 2018.
Pitching Powers Chants:
Riley Eikhoff (ND) was dominant in the biggest start of his career, tossing 95 pitches over 7.1 innings and stranding seven ECU baserunners.
Dominick Carbone entered with one out in the eighth and shut the door with 12 pitches, retiring all five batters he faced. The duo combined to hold East Carolina to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Sykes Leads the Way: Centerfielder
Wells Sykes went 2-for-3, singled to lead off both the sixth and eighth innings, stole his 17th base of the season, and scored the lone run. He was responsible for three of Coastal's six total baserunners.
Tense Pitcher's Duel: Both teams tallied five hits. East Carolina left seven runners on base while Coastal stranded six. The Chants turned one key double play in the seventh to erase a scoring threat and added several stellar defensive plays to preserve the shutout.
By the Numbers
- Attendance: 6,450 – the largest crowd in Springs Brooks Stadium history and a fitting cap to Coastal's sixth NCAA Regional hosting opportunity.
- Coastal improved to 16-7 in NCAA Regional games played at home.
Up Next: The Chanticleers advance to the NCAA Super Regionals where they'll face the winner of the Auburn Regional in a best-of-three series for a spot in the College World Series. Matchup details and site will be announced by the NCAA.
