8th inning eruption gives Coastal Carolina enough to take down Arizona to start the College World Series.

The College World Series is underway in Omaha and Coastal Carolina and Arizona delivered a fantastic opening game of the event.  After the matchup was easily identified as a rematch of the 2016 CWS finals, Friday’s opener marked a reinstallment of matchup that captivated so many nine years ago.  This time, however, it was the Chanticleers who entered as the favorite over the storied Wildcat program.  

Those Wildcats, led by Head Coach Chip Hale, reached Omaha after taking down North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Super Regional.  Prior to the thrilling set against UNC, the Wildcats tore through the Eugene Regional.  In the other dugout, Coastal Carolina brushed off their shoulders following a sweep through their home regional and a super regional hosted by Auburn.  The Chanticleers, under Head Coach Kevin Schnall, have become familiar with sweeps and the individual victories that define them as the team from Conway, South Carolina entered the contest as winners of their last 23. 

Schnall and Coastal Carolina turned to Riley Eikhoff against the uber-talented Arizona lineup.  Eikhoff was aggressive in his approach, attacking Wildcat hitters early, leaning on the help of Catcher Caden Bodine.  Bodine’s nab of Brendan Summerhill capped a clean first inning of work for the right-hander.  The throw-out marked Bodine’s 45th career successful throw-down, leaving him one off the program record, held by Matt Beaird.  

Arizona handed the ball to Owen Kramkowski, who led the BIG 12 in strike percentage, throwing his pitches for strikes 70% of the time. Eikhoff would keep the Arizona bats quiet for the first three innings, allowing his offense to strike first in the bottom of the second.  The Chanticleer bats produced three straight singles, loading the bases with one out for Wells Sykes. Coach Schnall describes Sykes as his “secret assassin” as The Citadel transfer has earned a .297 average in the nine hole for the Chanticleers. Sykes, in his carved out role, drove two Coastal Carolina teammates in on his single.  

Arizona, not caving in, celebrated as Mason White’s 20th homerun of the season dropped into the left-field bullpen, past the outreached glove of Sebastian Alexander.  In a hurry, the Wildcats were able to tie the game via back-to-back doubles from Adonys Guzman and Maddox Mihalakis.  

Eikhoff was relieved by Cameron Flukey, in a move that surprised some.  Eikhoff told reporters Schnall had informed the typical starter he would likely be called out of the bullpen this afternoon.  Flukey was able to keep the Arizona bats at bay in his first inning of work.  

In the bottom of the fifth, the Chanticleers struck, taking the lead thanks to a Blagen Pado RBI single to bring home Blake Barthol, giving Coastal Carolina a 3-2 lead. 

Arizona would strike right back, scoring two in the top of the sixth inning after being hit by two pitches. A perfectly executed bunt by Adonys Guzman would load up the bases for Maddox Mihalakis, who became the third Arizona batter to be hit by a pitch in the inning.  Garen Caulfield’s fielder’s choice gave the Wildcats a brief lead.

Coastal would go on to tie the game in the bottom half of the sixth via a Bodine groundout.  Tied at four, both teams shared a scoreless seventh inning and Flukey would keep Arizona off the board in the top of the eighth. Garrett Hicks came in to work out of the seventh inning and got the first two outs of the 8th inning pretty easily. 

A two out double by Wells Sykes and an intentional walk to Caden Bodine would then put runners on first and second with two down for Sebastian Alexander. Alexander would come up clutch for the Cardiac Chanticleers to give them the lead, as his RBI single would give the red-hot team for good.

The Chanticleers were able to cap off their opening-round victory, winning 7-4.  Coastal Carolina will look to continue their torrid stretch in the winner’s bracket on Sunday.