MT. PLEASANT – Kevin Woodall Jr., hit two home runs and Kyle Skeels tied a career high with four RBI, but Coastal Carolina freshman pitcher Anthony Simonelli was the story as the Chanticleers cruised to a 13-0 victory over rival College of Charleston Wednesday night at Patriots Point.

With the win, Coastal improves to 4-1 on the season and take a 23-22 lead in the all-time series with the Cougars (3-1). The series has been dominated by home team historically as CCU is now just 7-14 when playing at the College. Coastal will return to Patriots Point on Mar. 27.

Simonelli (1-0) was impressive in his collegiate debut, which was also his first game pitched since 2016 as he missed his senior season of high school due to Tommy John surgery. He did not allow a hit until one out in the fifth and only used 41 pitches to that point. He would also allow a double in the fifth, but escaped unscathed thanks to a fly out to end the frame. For the game, the freshman only needed 67 pitches over his seven scoreless innings as he allowed three hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

Woodall was 2-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI and Skeels was 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Freshman Parker Chavers was 4-for-5.

Coastal took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning. Kieton Rivers reached on an infield hit to shortstop. He then stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Keaton Weisz, like Rivers, hit an infield single to shortstop to drive in the first run of the game. After a walk to Seth Lancaster, Skeels lined a two-run double to right-center field to push the CCU lead to 3-0.

The Chanticleers kept the pressure on in the second. Chavers doubled and scored when Kieton Rivers reached on an error to give CCU a 4-0 advantage.

In the third, Woodall started the frame with a towering home run over the left field fence. It was his second home run of the season and put the Chants up 5-0. With two outs, Zach Biermann singled, Cameron Pearcey reached on an error and Chavers had an infield single to load the bases. Rivers then reached on an error to bring home Biermann for the 6-0 cushion.

Coastal exploded for six runs in the fourth to take a 12-0 lead. Skeels tied his career high by delivering a one-out, two-run single in the fourth. Cameron Pearcey and Chavers followed with RBI singles, scoring Skeels and Biermann. Rivers brought home Pearcey and Chavers with a two-run single to center.

Woodall started the fifth as he did the third with a solo home run over the left field fence to put the Chants up 13-0. It was Woodall’s second 2-home run game as he also accomplished the feat on Feb. 26 last season versus George Mason, a game he went 3-fof-5 with four RBI and three runs scores.

Dylan Gentry and Zack McCambley each worked perfect 1-2-3 innings in the eighth and ninth to close out the game.

Coastal returns home to host West Virginia, VCU and Illinois in the Brittain Resorts Invitational Friday-Monday at Springs Brooks Stadium.