(Photo by Michelle Bishop)
OMAHA, Neb. – A late-inning rally helped Coastal Carolina claim a nail-biter, 5-4, over Arizona Tuesday night at TD Ameritrade Park to force a deciding game three in the College World Series finals.
Arizona (49-23) scored in the first inning in its fourth consecutive game to take a 1-0 lead. Following a failed squeeze attempt that resulted in the loss of a base runner, Bobby Dalbec smoked a hard one-hopper to CCU third baseman Zach Remillard that ricocheted off the fielder and into shallow left. Zach Gibbons motored home to give the Wildcats an early advantage.
The Chanticleers (54-18) struck back in the third to take a one-run lead with help from just the second Arizona fielding miscue of the College World Series. Billy Cooke led off with a single to left center, and David Parrett reached second on a would-be pop out that landed in shallow left and was charged an error to Wildcats’ shortstop Louis Boyd. Anthony Marks made the defense pay with a single up the middle to score both runners.
An RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Arizona’s Ryan Aguilar tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the fifth. The grounder toward the middle allowed Cody Ramer to score from third with CCU’s only play at second base.
Wildcats’ starting pitcher Kevin Ginkel tossed seven innings and exited the game with the score tied 2-2. It was then the Chanticleers took advantage of reliever Cameron Ming (3-3) and put the left-hander on the hook for the loss. Anthony Marks led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Connor Owings single to left.
Ming was lifted for Alfonso Rivas after allowing the go-ahead run and recording just one out, but the Coastal Carolina bats did not let up against the fresh reliever. Upon entering the game, G.K. Young welcomed the left-handed Rivas with a single to right field to plate two more runs. The 5-2 CCU lead was the largest scoring gap of the night.
Arizona got two runs back in the bottom of the eighth to pull within one run of the Chanticleers. Justin Behnke bounced into a 3-6 fielder’s choice that allowed Aguilar to score, and an error by Coastal shortstop Michael Paez gave Dalbec the opportunity to head home from third.
Coastal Carolina starting pitcher Mike Morrison managed 6.2 innings of work to hold the Wildcats to just two runs. The senior struck out 10 in his first start of the season, and right-hander Bobby Holmes (7-2) delivered the Chanticleers the victory with 2.1 innings in relief. Holmes gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits, but cruised through the ninth with a three-up, three-down frame to close things out.
Despite receiving no decision, Arizona’s Ginkel was phenomenal in his first outing of the CWS. The junior struck out 10 batters while allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits.
The two teams will meet again Wednesday, June 29 at TD Ameritrade Park to decide the 2016 College World Series champion. Game three will air at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Arizona has been declared the home team.
