In a back-and-forth game it was only appropriate that UL Monroe would score two runs in the top of the ninth to take a one-run lead only to see Coastal Carolina rally in the bottom half of the frame as Seth Lancaster hit a two-run, walk-off home run to lead the 16th-ranked Chanticleers to a 17-16 victory Sunday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.

With the win, Coastal Carolina (31-14 overall, 17-4 Sun Belt) sweeps the Warhawks (18-25, 7-14). The walk-off victory is the Chanticleers’ fifth this season and secures CCU’s third conference sweep of the season. Overall, Coastal has won all seven league series this season and 11 straight dating back to last season, including eight sweeps while winning 28 of its last 32 league games.

Coastal scored first in the second inning, but ULM would take a 9-4 lead after hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning. However, Coastal scored 10 runs over the next two innings – four in the sixth and six in the seventh – to lead 14-9. The Warhawks battled back to score five in the eighth to tie the contest at 14-14. With bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Coastal scored on a wild pitch for a one-run lead.

However, in the ninth, ULM loaded the bases with one out on a walk, single and hit by pitch. Then with two outs, Brendan Jordan walked to force in the tying run. On the next pitch, Will Daniels was hit by pitch to force in a second run and a temporary 16-15 lead. With bases still loaded and Peyton Lacoste facing a 2-2 count, Coastal turned to Trevor Damron out of the bullpen. The freshman threw one pitch to strike out Lacoste to limit the damage.

In the bottom of the ninth, Keaton Weisz drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a Matt Beaird sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Lancaster hit his 12th home run of the season to lift the Chanticleers to the victory. Not only did the teams combine to score for 33 runs in a contest that last 4:56 minutes, but they combined for 36 hits (20 by CCU and 16 by ULM).

– Photo courtesy of CCU Athletics

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