Coastal Carolina Outlasts Campbell in a Back-and-Forth Thriller

Coastal Carolina got back on track offensively and rode timely hitting to a 13-7 victory over Campbell on Tuesday night in a roller-coaster affair that saw momentum swing back and forth throughout the night.

The Chanticleers jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning. Third baseman Walker Mitchell reached on a chopper to shortstop that brought Dean Mihos home from third to open the scoring. One batter later, Stetson transfer Jordan Taylor capitalized on a 0–1 pitch, blasting a three-run homer to left field for his first home run of the season. The four-run frame gave Coastal Carolina immediate momentum and provided freshman Cade Bosch with a comfortable cushion in his first collegiate start.

The Chanticleers continued to build their lead in the second inning, adding two more runs. Trace Mazon delivered an RBI bloop single for his second hit of the game, bringing home Blake Barthol, who had doubled down the right-field line. Later in the inning, Jordan Taylor recorded his second hit of the game with a single up the middle, scoring Mazon and giving Taylor his fourth RBI of the night.

Campbell right fielder Lukas Schramm sparked a rally with a three-run home run into the left-field bullpen, suddenly shifting the momentum. The Camels kept the pressure on Bosch, stringing together four hits in the inning to cap a four-run fourth. The offensive burst cut Coastal Carolina’s lead to 6–4 and tightened the game. Sophomore Scott Doran entered in relief for Bosch in the fifth inning.

Campbell carried its momentum into the fifth inning and quickly flipped the game. Jonah Oster and Logan Chapman opened the frame with back-to-back base hits against Scott Doran, immediately putting pressure on the Chanticleers’ defense. With one out, two-way player Jett Music delivered the key blow, smoking a double off the center-field wall to score both runners and tie the game at 6–6.

After Doran recorded a strikeout of Lukas Schramm for the second out, center fielder Joe Simpson followed with a double to center field, bringing Music home from second and giving the Camels their first lead of the night, 7–6. Elijah Clayton grounded out to second base to end the inning, but not before Campbell seized the momentum with a three-run frame.

The Chanticleers quickly responded, reclaiming the momentum with a four-run bottom of the fifth fueled by six consecutive hits. Shortstop Ty Barrango led off the inning with a single up the middle, and Dean Mihos followed with a base hit of his own for his second knock of the night. Blake Barthol then delivered an RBI single down the first-base line, bringing Barrango home to cut into the deficit.

Trace Mazon continued his dominant night at the plate, delivering his third hit of the game with a clutch double off the left-field wall that brought home both Mihos and Barthol to put Coastal back in front. Rex Watson and Walker Mitchell followed with singles and executed a double steal to move into scoring position, but Jordan Taylor was caught looking at strike three to end the inning. Coastal’s four-run frame gave the Chanticleers the lead and shifted the momentum back in their favor.

After Doran retired the side in the top half of the sixth, Coastal added two more runs. Colby Thorndyke scored on a wild pitch from third, and Barthol continued his impressive night at the plate, tacking on his second RBI and third hit of the night on a single up the middle, extending the Chanticleers’ lead to 12-7.

CCU later tonight, @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/JBsES34D3W

— Coastal Carolina Baseball (@CoastalBaseball) February 24, 2026

In the bottom of the eighth, Coastal Carolina loaded the bases with two outs, and a pitch hit Walker Mitchell for the second time in the game, bringing Mihos home for the final run. Scott Doran then closed out the ninth, retiring the side and not allowing a hit since the fifth inning, securing the Chanticleers’ hard-fought victory, 13-7.

Doran earned his second win of the season, tossing 5.0 innings pitched, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out five. Owen Simmons received the loss for Campbell, allowing six hits and four earned runs before being pulled in the fifth inning.

The Chanticleers racked up a season-high 16 hits in the win, a much-needed boost after a slow start at the plate early this season. However, Coastal will need to address its strikeout issues, having already tallied double-digit strikeouts three times this year, particularly with a tough weekend upcoming at the Bruce Bolt Classic in Houston, where they open Friday against No. 3-ranked Texas.

Campbell aims to get back on track in their weekend series at home versus Wright State.