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Georgia Tech Baseball Atlanta Regional: A closer look at the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 26: A general view of a baseball on the field during batting practice before game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Oregon State Beavers on June 26, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 26: A general view of a baseball on the field during batting practice before game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Oregon State Beavers on June 26, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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In today’s closer look at the Atlanta Regional hosted by Georgia Tech baseball, we take a look a the No.3 seed, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.

The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are three years removed from a National Championship but have aspirations of winning another this postseason. The  Chanticleers enter the Atlanta Reigonal this weekend with an overall record of 35-24-1 on the year including a 15-10-1 non-conference schedule.

Don’t be naive about their quality non-conference record either, the Chanticleers played the fourth hardest non-conference schedule this year according to Warren Nolan.  Against Quadrant No.1  (No.1 – No.50 in RPI) opponents this season, the Chanticleers were decent going  4-6. They were able to pick up wins against NC State, Illinois, Connecticut, and Illinois.

Offensively, Coastal Carolina is one of the best teams in the country. This season, they’re averaging 8.3 runs per game (7th best in the country) on 11 hits per game  (8th best in the country). As a team,  the Chanticleers are batting an incredible .309 this season and have an on-base percentage of .418. A total of eight Coastal Carolina regulars this season are hitting above .300. The Chanticleers have plenty of pop in their bat as well, hitting 87 home runs on the season.

With their offensive capabilities alone, the Chanticleers are a threat to make a deep run in this year’s NCAA Tournament. That being said, if they have a downfall, it will most likely be due to their pitching staff. It’s been a tough go for the Chanticleers pitchers this season, pitching their way to an ERA of 5.55. This season, Coastal Carolina is allowing on average 6.6 runs per game across 9.9 hits per game. Only one of Coastal Carolina’s starting pitchers has an ERA under 5.00 and only three relievers with ERAs under 4.00.

The key to beating Coastal Carolina this postseason will be to keep their bats off balanced and get to their pitching staff early and often. The Chanticleers can put up runs with the best teams, so getting into a high scoring affair with them wouldn’t be in an opponents best interest.  The Chanticleers start off their ACC Regional by taking on the Auburn Tigers on Friday afternoon.

Overall, Coastal Carolina is a team that could give Danny Hall’s Yellow Jackets a run for their money. Their offense is strong enough that if they got hot, they can make a deep run in this tournament and perhaps get back to Omaha, that being said, they’ll need their pitching staff to step up in a major way.