Coastal rallies in the seventh inning to beat Ohio

CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - Indya Smith’s walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh gave Coastal Carolina a 6-4 victory over Ohio on Saturday night at the Beach Chicken Brawl.

The win, Coastal’s sixth in a row, gives the Chants a 16-6 record on the season.

Coastal took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Iyanla De Jesus led off with an infield single and Libby Pippin beat out a bunt to put two runners aboard with no outs. Smith then doubled home the Chants’ first run of the game. CCU had an opportunity to extend the lead, loading the bases with two outs, but a groundout to shortstop ended the threat.

Ohio moved in front in the top of the fifth, plating three runs with two outs. With a runner on third, the Bobcats used a single, a hit by pitch, an error, and two walks to take a 3-1 lead.

The Chanticleers answered in the bottom of the sixth when Pippin opened the frame with a double and came around to score on an error to cut the deficit to 3-2. A fielder’s choice brought home Ally Wojciechowski to knot the game at 3-3.

However, the Bobcats reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh with a solo homer to center field to put the Chants down 4-3.

Riley Zana led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and an error put Pippin aboard as the winning run, giving Smith the opportunity for her walk-off heroics. Raelee Brabham (11-2) earned the win in relief, allowing one run on two hits in 2.1 innings of work.

Coastal will conclude the weekend with games against George Mason and Boston at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.