CONWAY – Cory Wood had three hits and two RBI while Lee Sponseller and Zach Biermann each added two RBI to lead Coastal Carolina to a 10-5 victory over UNC Wilmington Wednesday night at Springs Brooks Stadium.

The win improves Coastal to 8-2 on the season and marks the Chanticleers’ seventh straight win in the series with region rival UNCW (5-3).

Anthony Simonelli, the reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week, improved to 2-0 in his second career start. He allowed five hits and four runs with two walks and five strikeouts over five complete innings. Zack McCambley got Coastal out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth with CCU leading 8-5 at the time. The freshman finished with five strikeouts and one walk in 2.1 scoreless innings.

UNCW raced out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Jackson Meadows was hit by the first pitch of the game and he later came around to score on a double by Ryan Jeffers.

Coastal answered with two runs in the home half. Wood had a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kieton Rivers. After Seth Lancaster walked, CCU executed a double steal. On the play, a throwing error by the catcher allowed Wood to score. With two outs, Coastal took advantage of a second Seahawk error that allowed Lancaster to score.

In the second, Coastal extended its lead to 3-1. Keaton Weisz had a bunt single, took second on a ground out and scored on an RBI single back up the middle by Parker Chavers.

The Seahawks tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the third. Noah Bridges hit a leadoff double and Jeffers was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Mason Berne lined a two-run double to the left-center field gap.

However, the Chants once again answered UNCW’s scoring. Lancaster drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the third and Kevin Woodall Jr., was hit by a pitch. Sponseller followed with a two-run double into the right field corner to plate both Lancaster and Woodall.

UNCW scored one in the fourth to make it a one-run game, 5-4, but it could have been worse for Coastal. Kep Brown hit a leadoff single. He moved to third on an error and later scored on an error. The Seahawks would load the bases with one out, but Anthony Simonelli got a double play and strikeout to limit the damage.

Coastal put up a three spot in the fifth to double-up the Seahawks, 8-4. Kieton Rivers drew a leadoff walk and Lancaster reached on catcher’s interference. The pair stole third and second, respectively, and Rivers came home on Woodall RBI ground out. Two batters later, Biermann deposited a two-run home run into the UNCW bullpen for his second home run of the year.

In the top of the sixth, UNCW loaded the bases thanks to two walks and a single. Jeffers then worked the count full, fouled off a couple of pitches and walked to force home Cole Weiss from third to make the score 8-5. McCambley then struck out Berne to end the threat.

The Chants were able to answer for a third time, scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth. Matt Beaird singled and Chavers walked. An error on a pickoff attempt moved to the two runner up 90 feet and Cory Wood followed with a two-run double to the left-center field gap.

Coastal will return to action this weekend by hosting the Johnny Gardner Law Group Tournament Mar. 2-4. The Chants will host Ball State Friday (3 pm), Maryland Saturday (3 pm) and Radford Sunday (3 pm).