Coastal Carolina Dominates East Carolina in NCAA Super Regional

CONWAY, S.C. — Colby Thorndyke hit a grand slam to break a seventh-inning tie and finished with six RBIs as Coastal Carolina routed East Carolina 18-7 on Saturday night, sending the Chanticleers to the championship round of their super regional.

The Chanticleers, batting as the visiting team, scored 14 runs in the last three innings after trailing 5-4 heading into the seventh inning. Sebastian Alexander led off the seventh with a home run to tie the game.

Coastal Carolina loaded the bases after a single, an error, and a hit batter. Thorndyke stepped up and belted the first pitch over the right-field fence, giving the Chanticleers a 9-5 lead. Two outs later, Caden Bodine’s two-run double capped a six-run inning, extending the lead to 10-5.

Alexander added two more runs with a single during a five-run eighth inning, pushing the score to 15-5. In the ninth inning, Thorndyke contributed an RBI single, and Blagen Pado hit a two-run home run to solidify the victory for Coastal Caroline.

East Carolina’s Dixon Williams and Austin Irby each hit one home run and recorded three hits with two RBIs, while Jack Herring had four hits for the Pirates. Matthew Potok (3-1) was credited with the win, and Brad Pruett (5-6) took the loss.

No. 3 seed East Carolina faces second-seeded Florida in an elimination game on Sunday, where they must win to stay in the tournament. With just one win, Coastal Carolina will advance to the next round.