Arlington, TX (WBTW) — Coastal Carolina scored three runs in the seventh but saw UT Arlington score three runs of its own in the eighth inning to defeat the Chanticleers 6-3 in Sunday’s series finale at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.
The loss drops CCU to 28-21-1 overall on the season and 13-12 in Sun Belt play, while the win pushes UTA to 30-21 overall and 16-10 in league action.
Coastal offensively had five players combine for just six hits on the day led by Scott McKeon’s (2-for-4, 2B, run) two hits and Parker Chavers (1-for-4, 2 RBIs) with two RBIs.
For the Mavericks, 10 of their 11 hits came from the 1-6 hitters, with the 2-4 hitters each posting multiple hits in the win. Anthony Dominguez (3-for-4, BB, 2 RBIs, run), Zac Cook (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs) and Will Olson (1-for-2, SF, BB, 2 RBIs) all had two RBIs for the game.
Coastal righty Zach McCambley (6-3) suffered the loss, his first out of the bullpen this season, as he surrendered three runs on three hits and two strikeouts over 1.2 innings of work.
The win went to UTA reliever Wyatt Divis (4-0) who pitched a clean eighth inning, while closer Andrew Gross (17) earned his league-leading 17th save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Just like in the series opener on Friday night, the Mavericks scored first on a base hit from Dominguez, as the designated hitter hit a single through the left side to score Connor Aube, who had reached base on a lead-off walk, to put the home team in front 1-0 after just one inning played.
The Chants put one on in the first on a bunt single by Cameron Pearcey, another runner on base in the second on a McKeon double and two on in the third with singles from bothMike Koenig and Jake Wright, yet left all four runners stranded to remain down 1-0 midway through the third inning of play.
After Coastal starter Austin Kitchen (5.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) stranded three UTA runners in the bottom of the third and sent the Mavs down in order in the fourth, the home-standing Mavs picked up a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to double their lead at 2-0.
The Chants’ bats finally broke through in the top of the seventh, as Kieton Rivers reached base safely on an error at shortstop to start the frame. After a McKeon single and a sacrifice bunt by Nick Lucky, Koenig drew a base-on-balls to load the bases for the top of the order.
Chavers obliged with a two-run single through the right side of the infield to plate both Rivers and McKeon and tie the game up at 2-2.
On the very next pitch, the ball went wide of the catcher and rolled to the backstop to allow Koenig to score from third and put the visitors in black in front for the first time in the game at 3-2.
The lead did not last long, however, as a lead-off walk and a double to left field set up a sacrifice fly for Will Olson to knot the game up at 3-3 with two innings to play.
Following a 1-2-3 inning by the Chants in the top of the eighth, the Mavs retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run double over the head of Rivers in right field by Cook to put the home team in front at 5-3.
UTA’s Dominguez followed with an RBI line drive single past the drawn-in CCU infield to plate Cook and put the Mavs up 6-3 heading into the ninth inning.
The Mavs went to the Sun Belt leader in saves in Gross who sent the Chants down in order in the ninth in the win.
Both teams struck out eight times on the day, however, UTA drew five walks compared to the Chants two. CCU stranded six runners on base, four less than UTA’s 10 runners.
Coastal will wrap up the regular season with a four-game home-stand versus Clemson on Tuesday, May 14, and a three-game series against Appalachian State on May 16-18.