Baseball Falls 5-1 in Weekend Series Opener at No. 18 Coastal Carolina

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Conway, S.C. – Bobby Gagg struck out seven over seven innings to lead No. 18 Coastal Carolina to a 5-1 win over UAlbany in the opening game of a non-conference baseball series on Friday, March 21 at Watson Stadium.

David Sappelt, the Big South Player of the Year last season, led off the bottom of the first inning by belting the first pitch he saw for a home run to left field. The Chanticleers tacked on an unearned run in the second as Scott Woodward scored on a throwing error.

Coastal Carolina (16-4) took a 4-0 lead in the fourth as Tommy Baldridge walked to lead off the frame and Woodward followed two batters later with a homer to right field. The Chanticleers closed out their scoring in the sixth as David Anderson led off with a double and later scored on a passed ball.

UAlbany (4-12-1) scored its lone run in the top of the eighth inning. Sophomore right fielder Brendan Rowland connected on a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Following a groundout that moved him to third, Rowland scored as junior designated hitter Ryan Gugel reached base on an error by the first baseman.

Senior righty Casey Walsh was tagged with his fourth loss of the season for the Great Danes, striking out three in six and two-thirds innings pitched, while yielding five runs (four earned) on five hits. Junior Chris Ott pitched a scoreless final one and one-third innings. Gagg, the 2007 Big South Pitcher of the Year, improved to 3-1 on the season by striking out seven in seven scoreless innings, allowing just five hits. Nick McCully earned his third save by striking out the only two batters he faced.

The Great Danes and the Chanticleers resume their series on Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m.