CHANTICLEERS TAKE SERIES WITH 9-3 WIN ON SUNDAY

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. - Connor Owings led off the game Sunday with a home run to center field, and it was a lead Coastal Carolina would not relinquish in the rubber game of the Big South series at RU Baseball Stadium. The Chanticleers (17-20, 8-7) went on to win 9-3 and take the deciding game over the Highlanders (18-16, 8-7).

Coastal slugged its way to a 7-0 lead in the first four innings behind home runs from Owings and a two-run shot from G.K. Young off RU starter Michael Boyle. Boyle (2-3), who shut down Winthrop a week ago with a two-hit, complete game shutout, was ineffective on this day allowing seven runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings. Michael Costello came out of the bullpen and at one point retired 12 straight CCU batters to give the Highlanders a chance to rally.

Hunter Higgerson hit his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot, to cut the Chanticleer lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Higgerson drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to cut the lead to 7-3. The Radford rally continued to eventually bring the tying run to the plate with the bases loaded, but Chris Coia struck out to end the threat.

CCU added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth, and Mike Morrison completed a 1.1 inning appearance to earn his first career save. Coastal starer Chase Adkins (1-3) spread out seven hits and gave up two runs over 6.0 innings pitched to earn his first win of the season.

Higgerson and Patrick Marshall each collected two hits to lead the Highlander offensive attack. Young finished 3-5 with three RBI and two runs scored to pace the Chanticleers at the plate.

The wins was No. 999 in the career of Coastal head coach Gary Gilmore. He moves alone in 50th place on the all-time NCAA wins list.

Radford travels to Virginia on Tuesday night to face the No. 2 Cavaliers at Davenport Field. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.

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