Omaha, Neb. – Riding the arm of its ace, Coastal Carolina kept its season alive with a 4-1 victory over TCU Friday night. Andrew Beckwith threw a complete game, only surrendering six hits while striking out five batters. The win gave Beckwith 14 for the year, which is tops in the nation and a Coastal Carolina season record.
Coastal Carolina (52-17) took the early lead in the third inning with small ball. Billy Cooke started the inning getting on base after being hit by a pitch. Cooke was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by David Parrett. After a single by Michael Paez moved Cooke to third, Anthony Marks singled on a bunt, scoring Cooke.
The Chanticleers loaded the bases after Zach Remillard reached on an error by TCU’s shortstop. Connor Owings lofted a ball to center field deep enough to score Paez just before Marks was thrown out at third base for the final out of the inning.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Kevin Woodall Jr. drew a walk and was moved to third on a single by Tyler Chadwick. TCU (49-17) made a move to the bullpen, replacing starter Mitchell Traver (1-3) with Preston Guillory. Coastal got another run on the board as Cooke drove a ball deep enough to left for a sacrifice fly to score Woodall Jr. The Chanticleers were not done as David Parrett drove a line shot to left field good for a ground rule double to score Chadwick and give Coastal Carolina a 4-0 lead.
TCU finally got to Beckwith in the bottom of the eighth when Dane Steinhagen drilled a line drive just over the left field fence and in to the bullpen for a solo home run. Steinhagen’s ninth home run of the season cut the Chanticleer lead to 4-1. The Horned Frogs managed to get a runner to second later in the inning but Beckwith (14-1) shut the door on the threat inducing a fly out to center field.
Beckwith became the first pitcher to throw two complete games in a College World Series since 2012 when Konner Wade of Arizona accomplished the feat.
The win for Coastal forces another game with TCU tomorrow at 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to the College World Series finals.
