HIGH POINT, N.C. - A single off the bat of Justin Creel with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth capped off the comeback as Coastal Carolina (38-17) defeated Charleston Southern (20-35) by a final score of 9-8 on Tuesday afternoon in the Big South Baseball Championship presented by Brookwood Farms BBQ and Triangle Rent A Car at Coy O. Williard Stadium on the campus of High Point University.

Leading 8-6 in the bottom of the ninth, Charleston Southern was looking to become the first eight seed in history to defeat a one seed in the Big South Baseball Championship, but a combination of errors and timely hitting made it seem as if it just wasn't meant to be.

Ted Blackman led off the inning by reaching on a throwing error by Buccaneer shortstop Alex Tomasovich. Jacob May followed with a single up the middle of CSU closer Corey Deighan (3-4) to bring the potential winning run to the plate in the form of Daniel Bowman. The Big South Player of the Year laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by catcher Drew Woodall, but he had no play and Bowman reached with a single to load the bases. After Deighan struck out Rich Witten for the first out, everyone would move up one base, including the batter as Alex Buccilli reached on Tomasovich's second error of the frame. Blackman would score on the play to cut the Chanticleer deficit to just 8-7. The next batter was Tucker Frawley, who would also ground to shortstop as Tomasovich again couldn't handle it, allowing CCU to knot the game 8-8 and setting up Creel's heroics. Creel lined a 2-2 pitch up the middle through a drawn-in infield for the walk-off single.

Deighan was the tough-luck loser allowing three runs but none earned in one inning of work. He surrendered four hits and also struck out two. Deighan is now also in sole possession of third place in appearances in CSU history. He is tied for ninth all-time in the Big South after his making appearance 98 today.

Ryan Gunther went seven innings in getting the start for the Bucs. He scattered seven hits and allowed five runs (all earned) while striking out four and walking four.

Coastal Carolina tabbed Tyler Herb as their starter in the contest. The Bucs scored seven runs (four earned) off Herb on nine hits in 3.2 innings. He issued two walks and fanned one before giving way to reliever Aaron Burke.

Burke allowed just two hits and one run (earned) in 5.1 innings and also fanned three.

CSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when John Faircloth singled home Bobby Ison for one of his two RBIs on the day.

Coastal bounced back in their half of the first when May scored on a throwing error by CSU first baseman Robbie Streett to tie the game at one. The Chanticleers would take the lead 2-1 on an RBI single from Bowman.

The Buccaneers would take advantage of a defensive miscue by Coastal in the second. With two outs and nobody on, Blake Hunt laid down a sacrifice bunt that would be thrown into left field by Herb as he tried to get the lead runner at third. Hunt would come all the way around to third on the play while Walt Quattlebaum and Harrison Wilkins both scored.

Another three-spot would be dropped on the Chanticleers in the top of the fourth via a bases loaded walk by Quattlebaum and two-out single from Wilkins that would score Tomasovich and Streett.

Coastal cut into the 7-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh when Witten hit a three-run home run to left field making the score 7-5.

Bowman went 3-for-4 on the day for the Chanticleers while Creel was 3-for-5 with one RBI. Witten finished the day 2-for-5 with four RBIs.

Charleston Southern was led at the plate by Faircloth who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Chase Shelton and Quattlebaum both finished the game 2-for-4 with one RBI each.

The Buccaneers will now play Gardner-Webb in game five of the Big South Baseball Championship, an elimination game, tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.