CONWAY – In game one of the doubleheader, Lee Sponseller hit his second grand slam of the week and Kevin Woodall Jr., added a three-run blast – his 10th of the season – to lead Coastal Carolina to an 11-3 victory. In game two, the Chanticleers took advantage of six Bobcat errors to claim a 7-3 victory to, not only sweep the doubleheader, but sweep the weekend series as well.
The 27th-ranked Chanticleers improve to 19-7 overall, 6-0 in the Sun Belt while the 30th-ranked Bobcats drop to 14-8-1, 3-3.
Coastal Carolina will travel to Mt. Pleasant Tuesday to face College of Charleston at 6 pm. The Chanticleers will then head straight to Statesboro, Ga., for a Sun Belt series with Georgia Southern this Thursday (Mar. 29, 6:30 pm), Friday (Mar. 30, 6:30 pm) and Saturday (Mar. 31 (1 pm).
GAME 1 Coastal Carolina: 11 – Texas State: 3
Coastal scored five runs in the fifth inning and four in the sixth to pull away for an 11-3 victory over Texas State in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader at Springs Brooks Stadium.
Texas State took advantage of an error and three hits batters to score two runs in the top of the second. The inning started with an error, allowing Dylan Paul to reach. Jaylen Hubbard was hit by a pitch and, after a sacrifice bunt and fly out, Felipe Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to load the paces. Jacob Almendarez forced in the first run when he was hit by a pitch and Jonathan Ortega walked to force in the second run.
The Chants got on the scoreboard in the fourth. Cory Wood singled, stole second and scored an RBI single by parker Chavers.
Coastal exploded for five runs to take a 6-2 lead in the fifth. Turner Buis hit a leadoff single and scored one batter later on a double to right-center field by Michael Koenig to tie the contest, 2-2. Lancaster and Wood walked to load the bases and, with two outs, Lee Sponseller hit his second grand slam of the week to put CCU up 6-2.
In the sixth, Coastal pushed its advantage to 10-2. Matt Beaird hit a one-out single and Lancaster followed with a walk. Wood found the gap between first and second to drive in Beaird for a five-run lead. Woodall then cleared the bases with his 10th home run of the season, the three-run blast gives him 34 RBI this season. Woodall now has 31 career home runs to move into a tie for sixth on the CCU all-time list.
The Bobcats got one of those runs back in the top of the seventh as Paul hit a two-out, solo shot to left field. However, Coastal answered in the home half as Michael Koenig doubled and, after Tor Sehnert walked, scored on a Lancaster single to provide the 11-3 final.
Despite hitting five batters, Anthony Veneziano (2-0) earned the win. He only allowed two hits, two unearned runs and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings.
GAME 2 Coastal Carolina: 7 – Texas State: 3
Coastal Carolina scored four runs thanks to four errors in the third inning and held on for a 7-3 victory over Texas State in game two of the Saturday doubleheader at Springs Brooks Stadium.
Texas State (14-8-1, 3-3) made it interesting by loading the bases with two outs in the ninth. However, Shaddon Peavyhouse struck out the final batter, CCU’s 12 punch out of the game, to seal the win for Coastal (19-7, 6-0).
Texas State once again scored first and once again it was in the second inning. Jaylen Hubbard started the inning by being hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double by Derek Scheible. Hubbard later scored on a passed ball.
Coastal grabbed a 4-1 lead in the third thanks to four Bobcat errors. Seth Lancaster walked and Kevin Woodall Jr., was hit by a pitch. Lee Sponseller lined an RBI double down the right field line to score Lancaster. Woodall also scored on the play thanks to a throwing error. A second error by the Bobcats in the frame allowed Sponseller to score, putting Parker Chavers at second and Michael Koenig at third. A third error in the frame allowed Chavers to score for a 4-1 lead.
The Bobcats cut their deficit in to one, 4-3, with two runs in the fifth. Luke Sherley chopped a single over the third baseman’s head and, two batters later, moved to third on a double by Ryan Newman. Sherley scored on an RBI ground out and Jaylen Hubbard followed with an RBI single to right.
The Chants answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to go up 6-3. Sponseller walked. Chavers singled to center and the sixth error of the game allowed Sponseller to score, putting Chavers on third. Chavers later scored on a wild pitch.
Coastal took a four-run lead, 7-3, in the seventh. With bases loaded, Chavers plated Lancaster with an RBI ground out to provide the final score.
Zack Hopeck (2-2) did allow seven hits in five innings, but only allowed three runs (two earned) and two walks while striking out six. Davie Inman and Peavyhouse had the same pitching line over the final four innings. Both allowed one hit and two walks over two scoreless inning while fanning three batters.