Instant Replay: Coastal 9 Clemson 5
By: rmacrae@bellsouth.net March 18, 2015

By Trey McCurry.

Here is a look back at Clemson’s (9-10) 9-5 loss to Coastal Carolina (14-6) on Tuesday evening at Springs Brooks Stadium.

 

 

 

 

What happened?

The Chanticleers scored single runs in the first and second inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Tigers got on the board with a single run in the third inning as Eli White led off the frame with a triple and came in to score on Reed Rohlman’s one-out RBI single. Coastal Carolina quickly answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back homers, the first a grand slam. Clemson struck back in the top of the fourth with three runs of their own to cut the lead to 7-4. Chris Okey got things started with a single, moved to second on a groundout, and came in to score on Chase Pinder’s RBI single. After an Andrew Cox single, White scored Pinder with another groundout and Tyler Slaton followed with a single to plate Cox. The Tigers again cut into the lead in the top of the sixth. Pinder and Cox each singled to start the frame and moved up a base on White’s sac bunt. Slaton picked up his second RBI of the game with a RBI groundout to cut the score to 7-5. The Chanticleers answered with two unearned insurance runs in the bottom of the frame and the Tigers were unable to get any closer.

Game-Changing Moment:

The game changed in the sixth inning. After Clemson cut the Coastal Carolina lead to 7-5 and with Cox on third, Rohlman put a drive into a ball that was caught at the top of the wall to end the rally. In the bottom of the inning, an error came back to bite the Tigers as two unearned runs scored to extend the Chanticleer lead back to four runs.

What went right?

Cox and Pinder each had two hits to pace Clemson’s 10-hit attack while Slaton led the Tigers with two RBI as eight of the nine starters each recorded a hit. Pat Krall had another solid outing out of the Clemson bullpen, throwing 4.2 innings while allowing two unearned runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. 

What went wrong?

Paul Campbell and Alex Schnell each struggled on the mound as they combined to allow seven runs on eight hits in just 3.0 innings. Opponent homers continued to be a trouble spot for the Tigers as six of Coastal Carolina’s nine runs came in to score on the long ball. Defensively, a costly error allowed two unearned runs and on the offensive end Clemson stranded seven runners, including five in scoring position.