CONWAY, S.C. — Cameron Flukey struck out nine across seven strong innings and No. 13 Coastal Carolina used a pair of multi-run innings to pull away from Fairfield, 10-2, in a weather-delayed NCAA Conway Regional matchup that ended early Saturday morning at Springs Brooks Stadium.
Originally scheduled for 6 p.m., first pitch was pushed back to 10:37 p.m. due to severe weather in the Conway area. Despite the late start, the Chanticleers (49-11) remained sharp at the plate and on the mound, securing a 2-0 start in regional play.
The Chants jumped out early, scoring in each of the first two innings. Ty Dooley hit a solo home run in the fourth to make it 4-0 before Coastal blew the game open with a four-run sixth that featured a string of Fairfield miscues and RBI hits from Walker Mitchell and Blake Barthol.
Dooley finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI, including a double. Colby Thorndyke launched an opposite-field, solo home run in the seventh, and Blagen Pado tripled, walked and scored twice to lead a balanced Coastal offense.
Flukey (7-1) allowed just three hits and two runs over seven innings, throwing 99 pitches. Hayden Johnson and Jaxon Appelman each tossed a scoreless frame to close out the win.
Fairfield (39-18) was limited to three hits. Nolan Colby's solo homer in the sixth and Tyler Kipp's RBI single in the fifth accounted for the Stags' only scoring. Ben Alekson (9-2) suffered the loss despite allowing only three earned runs over 5.1 innings.
With the win, Coastal advances in the winner's bracket and will face No. 3 East Carolina on Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET.
NOTEBOOK DELAYED BUT DOMINANT: Saturday's game didn't begin until 10:37 p.m. due to severe weather, nearly five hours past its original start time. It marked one of the latest starts in Springs Brooks Stadium history, but the Chanticleers didn't show signs of rust.
FLUKEY FINDS HIS GROOVE: Cameron Flukey struck out nine and issued just one walk over seven innings to earn his seventh win of the year. He threw 72 strikes on 99 pitches and retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced.
DOOLEY BACK IN THE 9: Shortstop Ty Dooley returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the Clemson game on May 6 after missing nine total games due to injury. Dooley did appear as a pinch hitter in CCU's win over Georgia Southern at the Sun Belt Tournament. He poked an opposite-field home run over the left-field fence in the bottom of the fourth, his sixth round tripper of the year.
MOVE, GET OUT THE WAY: Walker Mitchell was hit by his 30th pitch of the season, tying the Coastal Carolina school record. Scott Woodward was also hit by 30 pitches in 2008.
HELLO DEAN-O: Dean Mihos pinch hit in the bottom of the eighth inning, his first at bat since April 27 at James Madison. He had missed 12 games before seeing some action as a pinch runner last weekend at the Sun Belt Tournament.
APPLEMAN FANNING FOES: Freshman Jaxon Appelman has struck out 7 of the last nine batters he's faced. He fanned two of three against Fairfield Friday after he struck out five of six in his last appearance at Old Dominion.
TEAM EFFORT: Nine different Chanticleers recorded a hit in the game, and eight players reached base at least once. The lineup also produced eight RBIs on 10 total hits.
CH-, CH-, CHANGES: Saturday's schedule is being adjusted. The first game of the day, an elimination game between No. 2 Florida and No. 4 Fairfield will start at 3 p.m. ET. The winner's bracket game between 3 East Carolina and No. 1 Coastal Carolina will have a 7 p.m. first pitch.