Coastal Carolina Rallies Against Fairfield on Opening Day

The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers opened the 2026 season with a 5–3 victory over Fairfield on Thursday in front of a record-breaking Opening Day crowd at Springs Brooks Stadium.

The Stags jumped ahead in the first inning when Coastal starter Cameron Flukey surrendered back-to-back solo home runs to the heart of the order in Luke Nomura and Matthew Buccerio, putting the Chanticleers in an early two-run hole. Flukey, who allowed just six home runs all season in 2025, was tagged early by the All-MAAC seniors.

When it was the Chanticleers’ turn at the plate, the first three hitters—Dean Mihos, Trace Mazon and Blake Barthol—all reached base with no outs, setting up a prime scoring opportunity. However, Domenico Tozzi, Colby Thorndyke and Blagan Pado each recorded outs, leaving the bases loaded and the Chanticleers scoreless.

By the third inning, Flukey had begun to find his rhythm, striking out five while getting an early feel for his 12–6 curveball and keeping his pitch count at just 40. Matt Bucciero singled down the third-base line on a 1–2 count, but Coastal left fielder Jordan Taylor gunned him down at second to end the inning.

Through four innings, the Chanticleers had no answer for All-MAAC First-Team pitcher Ben Alekson, who struck out six batters while allowing just three hits and no runs, keeping the Stags comfortably in control early.

In the fifth inning, Fairfield infielder Nolan Colby laid down a bunt down the third-base line, but Coastal third baseman Walker Mitchell made a smooth bare-handed play to record a bang-bang out.

Sophomore left-hander Brendon Miller relieved Alekson in the bottom half of the inning. Alekson finished his strong outing with six strikeouts, allowing just three hits, two walks and no earned runs on 83 pitches thrown against a known high-powered Coastal offense. The Chanticleers had runners on first and second base with two outs, but once again came up empty as Miller did his job.

Senior Darin Horn relieved Flukey to start the sixth inning. Despite giving up back-to-back solo home runs in the first, Flukey settled in to cap his season debut with seven strikeouts, allowing five hits and one walk on just 74 pitches. Horn struck out catcher JP Kuczik on three pitches to record the inning’s final out.

Trailing by two and searching for offense, the Chanticleers finally broke through in the sixth inning. Walker Mitchell reached on a throwing error by Fairfield third baseman Connor Scanlan, and Taylor followed with a quality walk to put two runners on with one out. Dean Mihos then came to the plate and delivered an RBI single to right field, cutting the deficit to 2–1.

Mazon, a Juco transfer, singled to right on a 1–0 count to tie the game, and Blake Barthol drew his third walk of the night to load the bases. On a 2–2 pitch to Domenico Tozzi, a wild back-door slider by Miller allowed Mihos to score, moving Mazon and Barthol into scoring position and giving the Chanticleers their first lead of the night.

Tozzi popped up a high fastball to right field, but Fairfield outfielder Jake Haarde lost the ball in the night sky, allowing two more runs to score and extending Coastal’s lead to 5–2. The Chanticleers capitalized on the Stags’ miscues to turn the game around.

In the top of the seventh, Fairfield’s Nolan Colby reached on a fielding error by Blake Barthol. The Stags pulled a run back moments later as Haarde crushed a double off the left-field wall, cutting Coastal’s lead to 5–3.

Fairfield freshman reliever Harrison Engle makes his debut and strikes out three batters in his first inning of college baseball, sending it to the top of the eighth.

TJ Schmalzle singled to left field for his first hit of the game, followed by Kucziak reaching on a fielding error by Chanticleer first baseman Colby Thorndyke, advancing Schmalzle to third. Horn found himself in a two-out jam, but struck out Liam Mcllory to escape the inning.

Haarde lined into a double play to Barthol to wrap up the season opener.

The Chanticleers had seven total hits, led by Mihos and Mazon with two hits apiece, each with an RBI. Taylor, a Stetson transfer, added a double, contributing offensively and defensively. Barthol also made an impact, reaching base four times with three walks and a single.

Horn earned the win (1-0) after delivering 3.1 innings in relief, allowing one earned run while striking out four.

The Chanticleers are now 11-1 in season openers in the last 11 years, winning five straight to begin the season.

The Stags also had seven total hits and aim to keep applying pressure on Coastal in Saturday’s doubleheader.

Both teams will need to clean up the errors moving forward, as the game featured a combined total of eight miscues.

Due to expected inclement weather in the Conway area on Sunday, Coastal Carolina and Fairfield will now play a doubleheader on Saturday at Springs Brooks Stadium. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST, with Game 2 set to begin approximately 45 minutes after Game 1 concludes.