There will be a third and final game of the 2016 College World Series Finals this year. In game 2, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers held off a late Arizona Wildcats comeback to win 5-4.
Wildcats strike first again
Arizona have scored more runs in the first inning than any other team combined in the College World Series. And once again, they got the ball rolling in the first. Cody Ramer led off the game with a single up the middle of the infield. Then, Zach Gibbons followed suit with a single of his own, moving Ramer up to second base. Two batters later, the bases were loaded after Cesar Salazar walked on six pitches.
Then the inning got a bit strange. With Bobby Dalbec at the plate, Jay Johnson put on the suicide squeeze play. Dalbec could not lay down the bunt and Ramer and Gibbons took off from second and third respectively. Because Dalbec did not make contact, Ramer was caught in no man’s land and got thrown out at third trying to get back to the bag. Fortunately, Bobby Dalbec came through with an RBI single, scoring Gibbons from second.
CCU scores five unanswered runs
Coastal Carolina managed to get on the board for the first time during this College World Series in the third inning. The speedy Billy Cooke singled to lead off the first inning. Cooke then stole second to put him into scoring position. Coastal Carolina’s speeders advanced 90 more feet after being sacrificed. A high fly ball hit just beyond the infield was misplayed by the Wildcats’ Louis Boyd putting runners at the corner with just one out.
The quick Chanticleer lead off hitter, Anthony Marks smacked a ball up the middle, bringing in his school’s first two runs of the Finals.
The Wildcats answered in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ramer, who has been a pest all series, drew another walk to start. Gibbons moved Ramer to third with one swing of the bat on the first pitch he saw. Ryan Aguilar made it to first base as CCU got the force out at second. You However, on the play, Ramer scampered his way home, leveling things at two-all.
Coastal Carolina scored their final three runs of the game after starter Kevin Ginkel was lifted for Cameron Ming. Ming had been stellar in the College World Series to date, but on this day, his stuff just was not as good. Marks lead off the top of the eighth with a single and moved 90 feet after a sac bunt.
Connor Owings regained the lead with a single, scoring Mark from second. The Chanticleers put two runners on after Zach Remillard doubled. Then, G.K Young brought home both men when he singled to right.
Arizona score two more runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to only one. However, that was all that they would get, falling short of lifting the title on Tuesday night.