BATON ROUGE, La. - Coastal Carolina's Michael Paez hit a walk-off single in the ninth inning against LSU to give the Chanticleers its first appearance in the College World Series, 4-3, late Sunday at Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
CCU's Alex Cunningham limited LSU to two runs over 7 1/3 innings and reliever Bobby Holmes worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the eighth with the Chanticleers (49-16) clinging to a 3-2 lead. LSU tied it in the top of the ninth because of two fielding errors by second baseman Cameron Pearcey, but Holmes prevented further damage after LSU again loaded the bases.
With the game tied at three apiece, the Chanticleers began the bottom half of the ninth inning at the top of the lineup. Leadoff hitter, Anthony Marks, who was 1-for-4 in the game, drew a seven-pitch walk, then stole second giving the Chants the winning run at second base. Shortstop Michael Paez then hit a chopper over the head of LSU third baseman Chris Reid and into left field allowing Marks to hustle home and score giving the Chanticleers it's first-ever trip to Omaha and the College World Series.
Coastal Carolina will face Florida or Florida State in its CWS opening game next weekend.
The Chanticleers jumped on top of the Tigers (45-21) early as they did in Saturday night's contest, this time plating two runs in the bottom of the mistake-filled first on LSU ace, Jared Poche. Marks led off the inning with a single and then advanced to second on a fly out from Paez. A wild pitch would advance him to third and he would score two batters later on another wild pitch from Poche. Connor Owings, who walked following Paez, would score on a G.K. Young single to right field.
The Chanticleers entered the game leading the NCAA in home runs but was unable to get the long ball going in game two of the Super Regional in Baton Rouge. LSU's Poche lasted 5 1/3 innings and was pulled in the bottom of the six in favor of reliever Parker Bugg. Bugg was unable to keep Young, who singled off of Poche to begin the inning, from scoring as Kevin Woodall singled in Young to give CCU a 3-1 lead.
LSU inched closer in the top of the seventh inning. Following Beau Jordan's foul out, the Tigers received back-to-back singles from Reid and Michael Papierski. Antoine Duplantis then doubled down the left field line scoring Reid from second but the LSU base coach at third held up Papierski. CCU's Holmes was able to get Jake Fraley to ground out to first to end the inning and the threat.
The Chanticleers threatened in the bottom of the eighth as they loaded the bases with just one out but was unable to capitalize on the good fortune as LSU's closer, Hunter Newman, forced a pop-up from Pearcey and then struck out pinch hitter, Tyler Chadwick, looking.
LSU finally tied the game in the top of the ninth when Cole Freeman reached on an error from CCU's Pearcey and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. After a walk to Duplantis, Fraley put down a sacrifice bunt that ended with the LSU centerfielder colliding with Pearcey who dropped the ball while covering first. Freeman scored to tie the game at 3-3 with no outs, however, LSU couldn't scratch across the go-ahead run.
CCU's Holmes (6-2), was able to get Kramer Robertson to ground out back to the mound and then after an intentional walk to LSU's Greg Deichmann, was able to punch out pinch hitter Brody Wofford. Beau Jordan then flew out to right field to end the inning and the LSU threat.