CONWAY, S.C. -- No. 14 Coastal Carolina plated four runs in the bottom of the second inning and went on to clinch the series sweep in a weather-shortened 4-0 win in five innings over ULM on Saturday (May 10) afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C.
The Warhawks (21-30, 7-20 Sun Belt) were held to three hits with
Isaiah Walker,
Jacob Billings and
Angelo Aleman all swinging for ULM's hits. After surrendering four runs,
Brennan Eager retired nine consecutive batters and finished the game pitching four innings and striking out four.
The Chanticleers (41-11, 23-4 Sun Belt) had seven different hitters deliver base hits and had RBI contributions from Colby Thorndyke, Wells Sykes and Blake Barthol. Luke Jones picked up the win after throwing two innings and striking out one while Matthew Potok held ULM scoreless in three innings of work and punched out four.
Coastal Carolina turned an inning-ending double play in the top of the first inning before Eager benefited from a double play turned by the Warhawks to end a scoreless first frame. Billings singled through the left side to start the top of the second and
Jackson Landry walked to put two runners on for ULM. Jones induced another inning-ending double play to keep the Warhawks off the scoreboard in the second inning. On a 1-2 pitch Barthol cranked a solo home run to right field to begin the bottom of the second inning. Thorndyke doubled home two runs on a 2-2 pitch while Skykes drove in Ty Barrango on an RBI groundout to make the score 4-0 in favor of the Chanticleers after two innings.
Walker singled with two outs in the third and was ULM's lone base runner in the inning. Eager struck out his third batter of the day in a three up, three down bottom of the third. After a scoreless fourth inning, Aleman pulled a double to left field with one out in the top of the fifth. Potok recorded a strikeout and a fly out to wrap up the fifth inning and keep the Chants in the lead.
Following a bunt single by Sykes in the bottom of the fifth, the game entered into a rain delay that lasted 45 minutes before the game was called, resulting in a 4-0 win for Coastal Carolina.
With the loss, the Warhawks have been mathematically eliminated from participating in the SBC Baseball Championship.
ULM will play its final road game of the season and wrap up the season series with Louisiana Tech on Tuesday (May 13) night in Ruston.
