By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Another game against No. 16 nationally ranked Coastal Carolina, another loss — but a lot to like in the narrow, 8-7 defeat.
Although the visiting Chanticleers swept the season-opening Sun Belt series from the Mountaineers, App State made them work for it in each of the three games. In Game 1, starting pitcher Nick DiRito shutout Coastal Carolina for five innings before giving up a pair of runs in inning No. 6. The Chanticleer batters pounced on three Mountaineer relievers for eight more runs the rest of the way while App State’s offense couldn’t produce anything until six runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
On March 14, another strong pitching performance from Mountaineer starter Gage Peterson (seven innings pitched, no runs on 2 hits, with nine strikeouts) could not hold up even after App State drew the proverbial first blood with four runs in innings No. 3 and No. 4. After Peterson’s departure (102 pitches facing 25 batters), Coastal Carolina’s batters touched up the Mountaineer relievers for seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings to win going away.
Then, in the finale, the Mountaineers again jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, ignited by leadoff hitter Nico Soul’s solo home run on the first pitch in the bottom half of the first inning. A 2-RBI single by Jalen Seward, and an RBi-producing bunt single by Charlie Evans followed Soul’s opening dinger, giving hope to the nearly 500 mostly App State baseball fans braving the cold and rain that this day might have a different outcome.
But it wasn’t to be. Starting pitcher Tanner Nolan went three scoreless innings until being chased by Coastal’s four runs scored in the top of inning No. 4. Reliever Everette Harris retired the last two batters in the inning on just three pitches with no more damage, but four more Mountaineer relievers went the rest of the way, giving up four more runs on four hits. Of the four, only the last one, Reyn Watson, emerged from the fray unscathed, giving up just one hit.
After App State added a run in the third inning (highlighted by Ethan Puig’s leadoff double) to take a 5-0 lead, CCU narrowed the deficit with four runs in the top of the fourth inning, capitalizing on three consecutive batters hit by a pitch off the arm of starter Nolan. After walking in a run and giving up a 2-RBI single to Coastal’s Ty Barrango, Nolan was sent to the showers and replaced on the mound by Harris.
The Chanticleers went ahead, 7-5, with three runs in the sixth inning, jumpstarted by Brice Estep’s leadoff blast over the left field fence. The Mountaineers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame. After retiring the first two App State batters, the Chanticleers’ Daniel Parker gave up back-to-back singles to Steven Smith and Riley Luft before Puig doubled down the right field line, driving in Smith and Luft to tie the game at 7-7.
In the top of the 8th inning, reliever Cal Clark hit Coastal Carolina’s first batter, Trace Mazon, who scored what proved to be CCU’s winning run two batters later on a single by Walker Mitchell.
The winning pitcher was Coastal Carolina’s Colby Richardson and App State’s Clark was credited with the loss. Although the visitors won the game, 8-7, the Mountaineers outhit the Chanticleers, 11-9. Both teams recorded an error.
But there were two other telling game stats: Mountaineer pitchers hit a whopping six Chanticleer batters. Also, Coastal Carolina was more aggressive on the basepaths, putting runners in scoring position with two stolen bases.
With the loss, App State falls to 0-3 in Sun Belt Conference play, 10-9 overall. Coastal Carolina starts league play with an unblemished, 3-0 in Sun Belt record, 13-6 overall.
The Chanticleers will look to extend their winning streak on Wednesday, March 18, in Buies Creek, N.C., with a 1-game, non-conference tilt at Campbell University.
App State will travel to High Point on Tuesday, March 17, before moving on to Norfolk, Va. for a Sun Belt Conference series at Old Dominion.
Key Performers on March 15
- APP – Ethan Puig: 3-5, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 2B (2)
- APP – Nico Soul: 1-5, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, HR
- APP – Riley Luft: 2-5, 2 runs scored
- APP – Tank Yaghoubi: 1-2, 1 run scored, 2 walks, 1 sacrifice hit
- APP – Jalen Seward: 1-3, 3 RBIs, 1 sacrifice hit, HBP
- APP – Steven Smith: 1-5, 1 run scored
- CCU – Trace Mazon: 0-4, 2 runs scored, HBP
- CCU – Walker Mitchell: 4-5, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, SB
- CCU – Blagen Pado: 1-2, 1 run scored, 2B, 1 walk, 2 HBP, SB
- CCU – Brice Estep: 1-3, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR. 1 walk, HBP
- CCU – Ty Barrango: 3-5, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs,
