VMI error helps Coastal Carolina stay unbeaten in Big South baseball tourney

BY CHRIS LANG
Published: May 23, 2008

COASTAL CAROLINA 3, VMI 1
CRAFTY CATCHER: Coastal Carolina won the game when VMI shortstop A.J. Yoder made a two-out error with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, allowing two Chanticleers to score and break a 1-all tie. But arguably, the game’s most important play took place in the top of the seventh. With one out and runners on first and second, Mike Roberts roped a single to deep right field. Shane Geisslinger tried to score from second, but Tommy Baldridge threw him out at home. CCU catcher Dock Doyle’s positioning on the play was critical. “He slid headfirst and I forced him to get away from the plate,” Doyle said. “I missed the tag. He missed the plate. I had to go back and tag him.” Instead of leading 2-1 with one out and runners on the corners, VMI was locked in a tie game. Tanner Biagini flew out to center field to end the threat. “Turning point in the game right there,” Doyle said. “They score there, we‘re down 2-1, and now we‘re on the ropes.”
NASTY BARHAM: The last time Coastal faced VMI starter Trey Barham, the Chanticleers touched him for seven hits and five runs in six innings in a 5-2 CCU victory. Barham was considerably stronger Thursday, holding the Chanticleers to six hits and one earned run in 7 2/3 innings. The difference? Doyle said Barham mixed a cutter into his repertoire, throwing Coastal’s batters off. VMI coach Marlin Ikenberry said Barham was throwing a slider with cutting action. “He competes,” Ikenberry said. “He throws four pitches in the zone for strikes. He had everything going today.” Barham was the hard-luck loser. The first batter reliever Travis Smink faced — Baldridge — hit the ball to shortstop that Yoder mishandled, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
INSIDE THE BOX: VMI outhit the Chanticleers 9-6, but all nine hits were singles.
STAR OF THE GAME: Doyle, who continued to pound the ball. He went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run and two RBIs and raised his season average to .374.
QUOTABLE: “They‘re a great club. They make every play. It came down to the fact that we didn’t make a play in the end. It could have happened in the first inning. It could have happened in the ninth inning. But it happened in the eighth. I‘m just proud of the way the guys competed all day.” — Ikenberry.
VMI 000 100 000 — 1 9 1
COASTAL CAROLINA 100 000 02X — 3 6 0
WP — Joey Haug (6-0). LP — Trey Barham (4-6). S — Pete Andrelczyk (8).
Highlights — VMI: Mike Roberts 2-4; Jordan Ballard 2-4, RBI; Trey Barham 7 2-3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 3 BB. CCU: Dock Doyle 2-3, 2 2B, run, RBI; David Sappelt 2-4; Bobby Gagg 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB; Joey Haug 2 IP, 2 H, 1 SO.