Coastal Carolina baseball team holds on to beat Radford

Losers of two straight heading into Saturday, the Coastal Carolina baseball team was looking to bounce back against Radford.

The Chanticleers did just that.

Coastal received excellent pitching and the offense did just enough for a 3-2 victory over the Highlanders at Springs Brooks Stadium to tie the three-game series at 1-all.

“It was big. We lost a couple in the last few games and we needed a bounce back,” Chanticleers third baseman Zach Remillard said. “Tonight we grinded out a win and [it was a] close game. It feels good to come out on top.”

With the Chants leading by a run entering the ninth inning, reliever Bobby Holmes allowed the first two batters to reach base. However, Holmes saved the day as he struck three for his third save of the season.

Coastal starter Austin Kerr (7-0) allowed two runs as he struck out four, walked three and allowed five hits in five innings for a no-decision. Reliever Mike Morrison (2-1) received the win after three scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

In his first game back from a broken hamate bone in his left hand that has sidelined him since the opening week of the season, Chanticleers outfielder Billy Cooke went 0-for-3.

Meanwhile, Remillard paced the Chanticleers at the plate and was the team’s only batter to pick up multiple hits, going 2-for-3, including the game-winning two-RBI double, which came in the sixth inning.

“I got a couple of good pitches to hit. I sat on some pitches in some different counts and you guess right sometimes,” Remillard said. “If you’re on time and on the barrel, good things happen.”

Radford starter Dylan Nelson struck out three and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in five innings for a no-decision. Meanwhile, reliever Zack Ridgely received the loss as he allowed two hits in one inning of work.

Catcher Josh Reavis went 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and Hunter Higgerson was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

“They have a good staff; they have some talent,” Remillard said of Radford. “They throw well to both sides of the plate and they have a good defense behind them. It’s going to make for a competitive Sunday tomorrow.”

Coastal will host Radford in the series finale on Sunday at noon, and Remillard is confident about his team.

“[Our morale] is really, really good. We get after it,” Remillard said. “We compete with each other in practice and push each other to be better. But also, we’re a family. We’re really close, we love each other and I think that’s what pushes us to get it done.”

This story was originally published April 18, 2015 at 9:41 PM with the headline "Coastal Carolina baseball team holds on to beat Radford."