CONWAY, S.C. — Coastal Carolina baseball will celebrate one of the greatest seasons in program history on Saturday, May 9, as the Chanticleers honor the 2016 National Championship Team during a weekend series against Old Dominion at Springs Brooks Stadium.
First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m., while Sunday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday's game time is at 2 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Saturday's game time could be adjusted to 12:30 p.m. due to Coastal Carolina University Commencement on May 9. The pregame ceremony honoring the Chanticleers' 2016 National Championship team will take place 25 minutes prior to first pitch.
The weekend's celebration will begin on Friday, May 8, from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., when members of the 2016 National Championship team will be available on the concourse between sections 106 and 107 for a fan meet-and-greet.
On Saturday, May 9, the 2016 team will be recognized on the field at 1:35 p.m. prior to first pitch. A video tribute honoring the Chanticleers' historic national championship run will be shown, with additional recognitions taking place throughout the game.
The 2016 Chanticleers made history by capturing the program's first NCAA National Championship, finishing the season with a 55-18 overall record, a 21-3 Big South Conference mark, the Big South regular-season championship, and the Big South Tournament title before embarking on a legendary postseason run.
Led by legendary head coach Gary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina delivered one of the most memorable campaigns in college baseball history, highlighted by the program's first Men's College World Series appearance. Gilmore also earned the 1,100th win of his coaching career in the title-clinching victory.
The season featured signature moments throughout the spring, including wins over nationally ranked Virginia and North Carolina, a sweep of Liberty, and a dominant 23-4 senior day victory over Campbell. In postseason play, the Chanticleers captured the Raleigh Regional, stunned national seed LSU in Baton Rouge to advance to Omaha, and then defeated No. 1 Florida, Texas Tech, and TCU to reach the championship series.
The national title was secured on June 30, 2016, as Coastal Carolina defeated Arizona, 4-3, in Game 3 of the MCWS Finals.
Trailing 1-0 in the sixth inning, the Chanticleers capitalized on two Arizona errors on the same play to score four unearned runs, highlighted by a two-run home run from G.K. Young that gave Coastal a 4-1 lead. Arizona rallied late, but Coastal held firm behind the pitching of Andrew Beckwith and Alex Cunningham, with Cunningham recording the final outs to seal the victory. Beckwith was named the MCWS Most Outstanding Player.
As part of the celebration, author Scott Pleasant will be in attendance selling and signing copies of his new book, Tenacious and True: Coastal Carolina's 2016 Championship and the Rise of a Baseball Power. Published by the University of South Carolina Press, the 288-page book tells the inside story of Coastal Carolina's unforgettable title run through the voices of players, coaches, and fans.
Fans will also have the opportunity to receive commemorative giveaway items, including Gary Gilmore bobbleheads, special edition shirts, wristbands, and limited-edition posters from the 2016 championship season, while supplies last.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early and join in honoring one of the most iconic teams in program history.
