Coastal Carolina Holds off Wake Forest for Series Win

No. 11 Coastal Carolina took Game 2 of the three-game season series, defeating Wake Forest on Tuesday night in Durham, N.C.

The Chanticleers leaned on another dominant showing from their pitching staff to secure a 2-1 win over Wake Forest, capitalizing on early run production.

In the top of the third, Chanticleer left fielder Blagen Pado poked a single into right field to score Rex Watson from second, who had reached on a double down the right-field line, putting Coastal on the board first.

Jaxon Appelman turned in another impressive midweek performance, tossing 3.0 hitless innings while striking out four on 47 pitches.

Freshman left-hander Case Bosch relieved Appelman in the fourth and worked out of the inning in 17 pitches, allowing Wake Forest’s first hit of the game but stranding runners on the corners to escape the threat.

Pado created another run in the fifth after being hit by a pitch for the second time, then swiped second and third on consecutive pitches before racing home on a sharp grounder off Jordan Taylor’s bat. Wake Forest first baseman Kade Lewis’ throw to the plate was just off line, allowing the Chanticleers to extend their lead to 2-0.

Wake Forest once again threatened in the fifth, placing runners on the corners after Boston Torres’ leadoff single and JD Stein’s base hit to center. However, Javar Williams grounded out to Blake Barthol at second, and Bosch worked out of trouble once again.

The Demon Deacons broke through in the bottom of the sixth, as Luke Costello doubled to left-center, prompting Coastal to turn to the bullpen and bring in Connor Kane. Designated hitter Matt Conte followed with a base hit to drive in Costello and cut the deficit to one.

In the bottom of the seventh, Wake Forest found its best scoring opportunity of the night. Catcher Jimmy Keenan led off with a single, forcing Coastal to bring in freshman left-hander Colby Richardson. Blake Schaaf attempted to bunt Keenan over, but Richardson made a smooth glove-side spin and throw to retire Keenan at second. JD Stein reached on a fielder’s choice, and a hit-by-pitch to Williams, plus a walk to Dalton Wentz, loaded the bases.

With two outs and tempers flaring, Richardson blew by Costello on a 2-2 fastball to end the jam.

Richardson did a job in his two innings of work, where he allowed no hits and no runs while striking out two.

Graduate Ryan Lynch came in to close the bottom of the ninth and went 1-2-3 to secure his second save and Coastal Carolina’s 24th win of the season.

The young Coastal Carolina staff, highlighted by Appelman, Bosch and Richardson, turned in a strong performance against a highly talented Wake Forest lineup. Bosch earned the win for the war room

Offensively, the Chanticleers tallied eight hits in the win, with Watson and Walker Mitchell each collecting two. Mitchell also extended his on-base streak to all 32 games this season.

Pado finished with a hit, an RBI, three stolen bases and a run scored, crossing the plate on Taylor’s fielder’s choice and factoring into both of Coastal’s runs.

As for the Deacs, Conte contributed the only run for the team on a single up the middle to score Costello.

Relievers Ryan Bosch, Evan Jones, Rhys Bowie and Will Ray kept the Chanticleers within striking distance, combining for six strikeouts while allowing just one hit in 4.1 scoreless innings.

Meanwhile, starter Duncan Marsten tossed 4.2 innings and held the Chanticleers to just two runs while striking out seven.

Offensively, Costello hit a double in the sixth and scored the Deacs’ lone run, which was driven in by Conte.

Wake Forest (23-11, 8-7 ACC) aims to put the loss in the rear-view as it travels to Miami (25-8, 6-6 ACC) for a three-game series against the Hurricanes. First pitch is set on Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m.

Coastal Carolina (24-8, 11-1 SBC) is now 3-1 against ACC teams this season and looks to carry that momentum into their three-game series with Arkansas State. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. on Friday.