Rider rallies from 5 down, then holds off Coastal Carolina 11-10 in 10 innings
CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — John Volpe and Brian Skettini delivered run-scoring singles in the 10th inning and Richie Sica preserved the win with a diving catch in deep center field, lifting Rider to a wild 11-10 victory over Coastal Carolina on Friday night in the host Chanticleers' Conway Regional.
After going ahead 11-9 in the 10th, the Broncs had to hold on in the bottom of the inning when Coastal Carolina loaded the bases with two out. But Danny Kirwin (7-2) got Caden Bodine to lift a deep fly to center that Sica caught diving to his back-hand side. Earlier in the half-inning, Ty Dooley's sacrifice fly drew the Chanticleers within 11-10.
Fourth-seeded Rider (36-19) picked up its first NCAA regional win since 1987 and will play No. 2 Duke in the winner’s bracket on Saturday. No. 1 Coastal Carolina (39-20) faces an elimination game against No. 3 UNC Wilmington. The Blue Devils defeated UNCW 12-3 on Friday.
Held to two hits and trailing 5-0 through six innings, the Broncs exploded for nine runs in the seventh on eight hits — six singles and a pair of doubles. Seven runs scored before the first out was recorded. Jack Winsett had two two-run singles in the inning and Erich Hartmann laced a two-run double.
The Chanticleers staged a rally of their own, eventually tying it in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Nick Lucky.
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