CONWAY, S.C. – Two home runs were hit by Texas State (26-16, 9-10 Sun Belt) on Friday in the series opener at Coastal Carolina (29-12, 16-3 Sun Belt) but the Chanticleers won the contest 6-2 from Springs Brooks Stadium.

"I thought Wade Cooper threw the ball really well and gave us a chance, but we didn't take advantage of it. Coastal does a great job putting pressure on your and taking advantage of mistakes," said head coach Steven Trout. "We've got to play cleaner baseball and offensively make quicker adjustments. Big day tomorrow to come out and tie the series up."
 
Both Rashawn Galloway and Samson Pugh hit solo home runs in the contest. For Galloway, it was his seventh homer of the season and the first for Pugh.
 
Hitting a double apiece was Chase Mora and Dawson Park, who also drew three walks. Also recording a base knock was Jackson Cotton and Manny Salas.
 
Wade Cooper (4-2) threw 6.1 innings and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts but allowed five runs on nine hits to take the loss. Luke Jones (4-1) tossed six scoreless frames with six strikeouts, three walks and two hits to earn the win.
 
Two strikeouts were recorded by Alizaeh Gutierrez in 1.1 innings. Colby Diaz struck out the lone batter he faced on the night.
 
CCU opened the scoring with a run in the second when Jordan Taylor trotted home from third on a balk.
 
In the next half inning, Mora laced a 1-1 pitch down the left field line for a double. Galloway followed by reaching base via a fielding error by the first baseman that put runners on the corners. Five pitches later and the bases were loaded with a free pass issued to Park. However, a double play would be induced to end the frame.
 
The hosts would add two more runs in the fifth and seventh to go up 5-0.
 
Galloway came to the plate with one out in the eighth and sent a 2-0 pitch 392 feet to left center to put TXST on the scoreboard. Park followed with a double to center but he would be left stranded on third base.
 
The Chants added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning to go back up by five.
 
Facing a 0-2 count, Pugh smacked the next offering 386 feet to left field to cap off the scoring in the game.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT first pitch on Saturday.
 
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