University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Coastal Carolina
Tennessee Suffers 10-5 Loss to Coastal Carolina
February 27, 2009 | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2009
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The Tennessee baseball team lost to Coastal Carolina 10-5 in their second game here on Friday at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Vols drop to 1-4 on the season and suffer their fourth straight loss since a 5-4 victory over Oregon State on opening day.
Tennessee reliever Danny Wiltz took the loss for the Volunteers in his first appearance of the season. The senior pitched one innings allowing three runs on three hits. He also struck out one and walked one. Wiltz took over for starter Nick Hernandez in the top of the sixth inning and surrendered the go-ahead runs in that inning.
Tennessee starting pitchers have yet to factor in a decision this season. All five decisions have been left up to the bullpen.
Coastal Carolina reliever Caleb Cuevas picks up his first win of the season after pitching a scoreless sixth inning for the Chanticleers.
Coastal Carolina took the lead 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs on two home runs. Shortstop Taylor Motter led off the inning with the eventual game-winning hit, a home run to left field, putting his team up 6-5. First basemen David Anderson then followed with a two-run home run. Third basemen Scott Woodward scored on the home run after reaching on a walk.
CCU added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to increase its lead to 10-5. Gilmore led off the inning with a single and was then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Motter then drove in his third run of the game on a single up the middle, scoring Gilmore from second. Then, Woodward reached on an error, which also allowed Motter to cross the plate.
Third basemen Tyler Horne put the Vols on the board first with a three-run home run in the top of the second inning. First basemen Cody Hawn led off the inning with a walk, followed by a base-hit through the right side by second basemen Cody Brown. The home run was Horne's first of the season.
Coastal Carolina responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the second. Left field Chance Gilmore doubled to center field and then advanced to third base on a groundout by right fielder Dan Bowman. Motter then singled to left field to drive in the run and make the score 3-1. The next batter, second basemen Tyler Bortnick, tied the game with one swing, hitting a two-run home run, his second of the season, over the wall in left field.
The score did not stay tied long. Center fielder Kentrail Davis led off the third inning with a towering home run to right field, giving the Vols a 4-3 lead. Tennessee tacked on another run when Cody Brown singled through the left side scoring catcher Forsythe, who previously reached on a double down the right field line.
The back-and-forth scoring continued when Coastal Carolina added one run in the bottom of the forth to make the score 5-4 Vols. Gilmore tripled deep to center field after designated hitter Adam Rice grounded out to third to start the inning. The next batter, Bowman singled to center to drive in Gilmore from third.
The Chanticleers tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring an unearned run. Gilmore singled in catcher Jose Iglesias who reached on an error. Hernandez got the first two outs of the inning before back-to-back errors by the Volunteer defense kept the inning alive.
Hernandez went five innings for UT, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking one and fanning three. Coastal Carolina's starting pitcher Cody Wheeler went five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. The sophomore walked two while striking out seven.
Freshman Steven Gruver and junior Jeff Lockwood also saw action out of the Tennessee bullpen. Lockwood pitched a perfect nine inning, striking out one.
The Volunteers will not play Saturday before taking on Florida International and Brown University on Sunday. Both games are scheduled to be played at Watson Stadium, the home of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Pitchers and times have yet to be determined.
