STATESBORO, Ga. – Coastal Carolina erupted for five runs in the top of the eighth inning to rally past Georgia Southern, 8-7, in Friday afternoon's Sun Belt Conference series opener at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Trailing 7-3 entering the eighth, the Chanticleers put together a decisive frame fueled by timely hitting to flip the game in their favor.
Colby Thorndyke ignited the rally with a solo home run, his second of the season, to trim the deficit to 7-4. Coastal continued to apply pressure, and with two runners on, Walker Mitchell laced a two-run double to score Ty Barrango and Dean Mihos and cut the Eagles' lead to 7-6.
Mitchell, who turned in a career performance, finished 3-for-5 with three doubles, tying a Coastal Carolina single-game record, while driving in three runs.
After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Mitchell came home on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Winer to even the score at 7-7.
The Chanticleers were not done. Brice Estep followed with a bloop single to center field to plate Rex Watson and give Coastal an 8-7 lead. Estep was one of three Chants to record three hits on the day, joined by Mitchell and Mihos.
Connor Kane earned the win in relief, tossing one inning and allowing one run on one hit with a strikeout. Darin Horn secured his team-leading sixth save of the season, delivering two shutout innings while surrendering no hits and striking out three.
Georgia Southern threatened in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases on three walks with a chance to tie or take the lead. However, Horn shut the door by striking out Jonathan Jamie to end the game and seal the Coastal victory.
With the win, Coastal Carolina improves to 32-13 overall and 18-4 in Sun Belt Conference play.
Due to expected weather in the Statesboro area, Coastal and Georgia Southern will continue the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. on ESPN+.
