BREWTON, Ala. - The Coastal Alabama - North Baseball team hosted Gordon State College (Ga.) for a three-game series over the weekend, dropping two of the three games played in the process. The Coyotes fell 20-10 in a high-scoring series opener on Feb. 13, while splitting a doubleheader the following day, Feb. 13. Coastal - North managed a 6-3 victory in the series finale to avoid the weekend sweep.
The series loss drops the 'Yotes overall record to 6-6 on the young season.Â
Series Recap
In the opener on Friday, the two teams combined for 30 runs and 25 hits, with Gordon State earning a 20-10 win in eight innings. The Highlanders used an 11-run eighth inning to put the nail in the coffin and open the series with a win despite Coastal - North scoring the first three runs of the game in the first inning.
Gordon State out-hit the Coyote 18-7, but committed five errors to keep Coastal - North in the ballgame. Jesse Lord also helped keep the 'Yotes in the game, finishing 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs and three runs scored. Lord finished a triple shy of the cycle in the series opener. Meanwhile, Reni Mason and Ashton Hardy joined Lord with hits in the defeat, with Mason finishing 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and Hardy going 1-for-2 with a run driven in. Only three Coyotes finished in the hit column against the Highlanders in game one.Â
The Coastal - North pitching staff was roughed up in the series opener, with four pitchers seeing action on the bump. All four pitchers allowed at least three runs and combined for just two strikeouts.Â
The following day, Gordon State shut out the 'Yotes 12-0 in a six-inning game to kickoff the afternoon twin bill. Coastal - North recorded just two hits, with Reni Mason and Peyton Martin collecting one apiece. Meanwhile, the pitching staff saw two arms in the loss, with Kieran Kostanoski throwing four innings to open the game. Andrew Benson tossed two innings of relief as the pair combined to allow five earned runs and eight walks. Two defensive miscues on Coastal's side cost the pitching staff a decent outing in the end.Â
In the series finale, Coastal - North salvaged the series with a 6-3 victory in seven innings. The big inning came late in the fifth where the Coyotes pushed across four runs to seal the win. Alex Phillips went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, recording a two-run single in the decisive fifth frame. Meanwhile, Cade Kelly also smacked a homer in the win, and Rustin Pope and Sam Guth joined with one RBI each in the victory. The 'Yotes tallied nine hits in the finale.
On the mound, TJ Hauser got the start and tossed 3 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned). Kade McCord then threw 2 2/3 scoreless frames from out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit and striking out five, before Bryant Lacour closed out the game in the seventh.Â
Coastal - North will look to build off the series finale ahead of a single home game slated for Wednesday of this upcoming week.
Set for One on Wednesday
The Coyotes will host Tallahassee Community College (Fla.) in Brewton, Ala. on Feb. 18 for the next game on the schedule, set for 1:00 p.m. CT on JockJive.com.
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