In College World Series elimination games, the motto is “Whatever It Takes”.
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David Parrett, C, Coastal Carolina – Parrett, a senior, entered the game hitting. He ripped the first pitch he saw into left field for a two-out RBI single to give his team a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. “And today was the crowning moment”. We needed someone to step up.
“If you had told me we would be where we’re at right now four months ago, two months ago, maybe three weeks ago, I’m not sure I would have laid a whole lot of money on it by any means”, coach Gary Gilmore said. “I’m kind of a little bit in shock just over some of that stuff, because we hadn’t really done that in a long time”. It was uncharacteristic of our team.
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers will live to fight another day at the 2016 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Coastal Carolina (51-17) will play TCU in the Bracket 2 final on Friday night. That means CCU must beat TCU twice to advance to the best-of-three final that starts Monday. “They came back and really competed today, and we’re very fortunate to come out on top”.
“We walked too many guys, but we found a way to win”. All that matters, and what we’ve talked about, is living for tomorrow.
“We knew it could be our last game”, Coastal Carolina’s Mike Morrison said “And I didn’t want my career to end today”. Texas Tech would answer in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded double by Stephen Smith, making the score 3-1.
Morrison deflected any praise, turning it toward his catcher. “That’s what it came down to”, Parrett said.
Coastal Carolina scored three more in the 5th inning with a couple of two-out hits off Parker Mushinski to open up a 7-3 lead. “This group of guys, we don’t want to say goodbye to each other yet. Tomorrow’s another one-game season, so we’re very excited about that”.
Texas Tech wraps up their season (47-20, 19-5 Big 12) with their deepest post season finish in school history.
The Chanticleers bullpen did the heavy lifting, with relievers Mike Morrison and Bobby Holmes pitching the final 6.2 innings.
Gilmore made some lineup switches Thursday – having Anthony Marks and Michael Paez flip spots at the top of the order, having Connor Owings and Zach Remillard flip spots behind them, and starting David Parrett at catcher – and the Chants broke out for seven runs after scoring only three total over their first two games of the week.
The Red Raiders had an opportunity to bounce back from Coastal Carolina’s three-run third inning. The Red Raiders answered in the bottom of the frame after Stephen Smith plated three off a blast to left center.
Tyler Chadwick, 2B, Coastal Carolina – Chadwick combined with Parrett to account for half of the Chanticleers’ hits from the Nos.
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The Chanticleers responded swiftly with a three-run inning of their own in the top of the third.
