By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Starting pitcher Gage Peterson threw seven shutout innings against Coastal Carolina on March 14, allowing just two hits while walking two and striking out nine Chanticleer batters. Meanwhile, App State’s offense jumped out to a 4-0 lead after those seven innings — but it was all for naught as the visitors from Conway, S.C. jumped on the Mountaineers’ relievers in their final two at-bats to take Game 2 of the weekend series, 7-4.
It was a tale of opposite trends in front of a big Smith Stadium crowd of 1,119 fans on a bright and sunny baseball-perfect day. Ranked No. 16 in the nation, the visiting Chanticleers were held scoreless against Petersen while the Mountaineers were manufacturing runs through those first seven innings. In innings No. 8 and No. 9, however, App State was able to get only one runner on base in each of the final two innings while Coastal ripped four consecutive, 2-out singles to manufacture three runs in the eighth inning, narrowing the deficit to just a single run going into the final frame. Then they scored four runs in the top of the ninth, capped off by a 2-RBI home run off the bat of Trace Mazon, on a 3-2 pitch to account for the game’s final scoring.
Ryan Lynch (1-0), Coastal Carolina’s fourth pitcher in the contest, was on the mound when the Chanticleers tied the game and went ahead, so was credited as the winning pitcher. Teammate Scott Doran earned his first save. App State reliever Max Tramontana (1-1) picked up the loss.
App State and Coastal Carolina will meet in Game 3 of the weekend series on March 15, with first pitch rescheduled for 11 a.m.
Key Game 2 Performers
- CCU – Dean Mihos: 3-5, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, SB
- CCU – Trace Mazon: 2-4, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs, HR, SB
- APP – Colton Denton: 2-4, 1 RBI, 2B
- APP – Nico Soul: 1-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1HBP, SB
- APP – Jalen Seward: 1-4, 1 run scored, 2B
- APP – Charlie Evans: 1-4, 1 run scored
- APP – Riley Luft: 1-4, 1 run scored
- APP – Ethan Puig: 1-5, 1 RBI
