CHARLESTON, S.C. - Anthony Markham pitched seven near-perfect innings and Nick Chinners had another solid day at the plate, but late mistakes from the Charleston Southern baseball team cost the Buccaneers as they fell 7-5 to No. 8 Coastal Carolina University in the Big South Conference opener Friday afternoon at CSU Ballpark.

CSU (8-11, 0-1 Big South Conference) took a 5-2 lead into the eighth inning, but the Chanticleers (16-3, 1-0 Big South) scored five runs in the final two frames to stifle the upset bid.

Markham struck out the first two batters to lead off the game, but followed that up by allowing a home run to Jose Iglesias to give the Chants the early advantage.

Tom Burkett walked to get CSU started, and Chinners followed that up by blasting his second home run of the season over the left field wall to give the Buccaneers a 2-1 lead.

Taylor Motter tied the game up after leading off the second with a single to right field. Rico Noel drove home Motter with a single that narrowly missed Markham's outstretched glove. Markham settled down despite allowing the tying run and retired the next two batters to end the inning and stop the bleeding.

Charleston Southern didn't allow Coastal Carolina to gain any momentum as the blue and gold plated three runs in the home half of the frame. Derek Smith led off the inning with a single to center field and Patrick Dolan followed that up with a five-pitch walk.

Walt Quattlebaum reached base via a bunt single and Tom Burkett drove home both Smith and Dolan when he singled to left field. Chinners recorded his third RBI of the game when he singled up the middle to plate Quattlebaum, and CSU ended the second with a 5-2 advantage.

Markham and CCU starting pitcher Cody Wheeler turned the game from a shootout into a pitcher's duel following the seven runs in the first two innings. Markham pitched through the seventh and retired the last nine batters he faced.

Wheeler also pitched seven innings and retired nine straight before leaving on the hook for the loss. Ryan Connolly (2-0) pitched the final two frames and sat down all six Buccaneers that stepped into the batter's box against him.

Markham exited with the 5-2 lead, but Dolan (0-2) came on in relief and was unable to close the door on the Chanticleers.

The closer for CSU gave up five runs on six hits in just 1.1 innings to take the loss and record a blown save. Corey Deighan relieved Dolan and recorded the last two outs.

Charleston Southern entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 7-5, and the home squad was unable to solve Connolly and his quirky throwing motion.

Markham scattered seven hits and just two runs over seven innings of work, while recording five strikeouts.

Chinners led the Bucs with a 3-for-4 effort from the dish. He recorded three runs batted in and scored once. Quattlebaum recorded two hits and Burkett drove home two runs to pace Charleston Southern.

Wheeler threw seven innings and gave up five runs on seven hits, while striking out a career-high 12 batters.

Five different Chanticleers recorded two hits, and Steve Davis finished with a team-high three RBI. Seven different Chants scored.

Coastal Carolina outhit the Buccaneers 13-7, and three errors proved costly for CSU.

The Bucs and Chants will play Game Two of the weekend set at 2 p.m. March 20 at CSU Ballpark.