Coastal Carolina outlasts Arizona in College World Series opener
Wildcats pushed to brink, will face elimination game Sunday morning
OMAHA, Nebr. (KYMA, KECY) - Coastal Carolina came out swinging in their College World Series opener Friday afternoon, riding late-inning momentum and timely pitching to a 7-4 win over the Arizona Wildcats at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
It was senior center fielder Wells Sykes who opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-run single to left center after the Chanticleers loaded the bases.
Arizona clawed back in the fourth thanks to a solo home run from standout shortstop Mason White, followed by back-to-back doubles from Adonys Guzman and Maddox Mihalakis to even the score at 2-2.
The game stayed tense through the middle innings. Coastal pulled ahead 3-2 in the fifth on an RBI single from Blagen Pado, only for Arizona to answer in the sixth. After loading the bases with no outs, Mihalakis was hit by a pitch to tie the game, and Garen Caulfield gave the Wildcats their first lead of the afternoon with a fielder’s choice grounder that made it 4-3.
That lead didn't last long. Coastal catcher Caden Bodine grounded out in the bottom of the sixth, but it was enough to score Dean Mihos from third and tie the game once again.
With the pressure mounting in the eighth, the Chanticleers capitalized. Sebastian Alexander lined a single into left to drive in the go-ahead run, and Blake Barthol followed with a two-run double to deep right, giving Coastal Carolina a commanding 7-4 advantage heading into the final frame.
Arizona refused to go quietly. After a leadoff double and a single from Tommy Splaine put runners at the corners with no outs, Coastal called in sophomore Dominic Carbone from the bullpen. Carbone struck out the next batter, then induced a ground ball to second that Barthol turned into a game-ending double play.
With the win, Coastal Carolina moves into the winners bracket and will face the winner of Oregon State and Louisville on Sunday at 6 p.m. PST on ESPN2. Arizona drops into the elimination bracket and will now fight to keep its season alive Sunday at 11 a.m. PST, also on ESPN.
For the Wildcats, the road gets tougher from here. But after showing signs of life at the plate and battling through a close contest, they still have a shot to fight back.
