Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, Georgia State pull upsets at SBC Baseball Championship

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Upsets ruled the day in Tuesday action at the 2021 Guardian Credit Union Sun Belt Baseball Championship presented by Troy University.

No. 6-seeded Coastal Carolina, No. 5-seeded Arkansas State and No. 5-seeded Georgia State upended their higher-seeded opponents, while No. 4-seeded App State secured its first-ever win in the Sun Belt Baseball Championship as the lone higher-seed to remain unscathed.

Game 1 – No. 6 Coastal Carolina def. No. 4 Little Rock, 15-1 (7 Innings)
Coastal Carolina plated at least one run in each inning from the second through the seventh to outpace Little Rock, 15-1, in a seven-inning victory to open pool play. The duo of redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Shaddon Peavyhouse—who earned the win—and freshman right-handed pitcher Matt Joyce—who claimed the save—conceded just one run on four hits over 7.0 innings pitched.

Nine different Chanticleers tallied hits in the run-rule win, with seven posting an RBI and nine crossing the plate for the reigning Sun Belt tournament champions. Sophomore second baseman Dale Thomas headlined the Coastal Carolina offense with a four-RBI effort, including a two-run bomb in the top of the third inning.

With the victory, Coastal Carolina moves to 10-2 all-time in Sun Belt Championship play since joining the conference in 2017.

Game 2 – No. 5 Arkansas State def. No. 3 Troy, 9-6
Arkansas State fended off a prolonged Troy rally to secure a 9-6 victory in pool play. The Red Wolves jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but the Trojans clawed back to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth.

Senior first baseman Sky-Lar Culver delivered a clutch bases-loaded, three-RBI double in the top of the ninth for Arkansas State—following a single by junior third baseman Ben Klutts, a double by senior outfielder Tyler Duncan and an intentional walk to junior outfielder Jaylon Deshazier—to provide the final margin. Senior right-handed pitcher Kollin Stone, who threw the final 2.1, picked up the victory for the Red Wolves in relief.

With the win, Arkansas State moves to 28-42 in Sun Belt Championship action all-time.

Game 3 – No. 5 Georgia State def. No. 3 ULM, 9-6
Georgia State rode a five-RBI effort from sophomore outfielder Josh Smith to a 9-6 win over ULM in pool play. The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third on a three-run home run from Smith. ULM rallied in the bottom half of the fourth, taking advantage of a pair of errors to turn the 3-0 deficit into a 5-3 lead. Junior outfielder Trace Henry stole home to highlight the Warhawk rally.

With the game tied at 6-6 in the top of the eighth, Smith again provided the spark for the Georgia State offense, singling to left center to plate the go-ahead run. With the bases loaded two batters later, junior designated hitter Ryan Glass secured the final Panther margin with a two-RBI double down the right field line. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Ryan Watson picked up the victory for Georgia State after tossing 3.0 innings in relief, while junior right-handed pitcher Trey Horton earned the save following an unblemished final two frames.

With the victory, Georgia State improves to 7-8 in Sun Belt Championship contests all-time.

Game 4 – No. 4 App State def. No. 6 Texas State, 1-0
App State earned its first-ever victory in the Sun Belt Baseball Championship, 1-0 over Texas State, behind a trio of arms in senior left-handed pitcher Quinton Martinez, freshman right-handed pitcher Ben Peterson and redshirt junior left-handed pitcher Eli Ellington. Each pitched three innings, with the trio scattering four hits, Peterson picking up the win and Ellington earning the save.

Offensively, the Mountaineers manufactured a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, which proved to be the difference. Junior second baseman Luke Drumheller followed up an Alex Leshock walk and a Bailey Welch double with a single to right center to plate the game’s lone runner.

The 2021 Guardian Credit Union Sun Belt Baseball Championship presented by Troy University continues Wednesday, with pool play action resuming at 11 a.m. CT. Tickets remain available, with prices ranging from $10 to $25 for a single game and from $50 to $110 for all-session tournament booklets. For more information on tickets and seating options—or to purchase all-session tournament booklets—contact the Montgomery Biscuits ticket office by calling 334.819.7483. Each game of the Sun Belt Baseball Championship will also be broadcast live on ESPN+.

For additional information, including relevant links and daily recaps, visit Sun Belt Baseball Championship Central.

Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 26
Game 5 – No. 1 South Alabama vs. No. 6 Coastal Carolina, 11:00 a.m.
Game 6 – No. 2 Georgia Southern vs. No. 5 Georgia State, 3:00 p.m.
Game 7 – No. 1 Louisiana vs. No. 6 Texas State, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 27
Game 8 – No. 1 South Alabama vs. No. 4 Little Rock, 11:00 a.m.
Game 9 – No. 2 UTA vs. No. 5 Arkansas State, 3:00 p.m.
Game 10 – No. 1 Louisiana vs. No. 4 App State, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, May 28
Game 11 – No. 2 UTA vs. No. 3 Troy, 3:00 p.m.
Game 12 – No. 2 Georgia Southern vs. No. 3 ULM, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 29
Semifinal 1 – Pool A Winner vs. Pool D Winner, 12:00 p.m.
Semifinal 2 – Pool B Winner vs. Pool C Winner, 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 30
Championship Game – Semifinal 1 Winner vs. Semifinal 2 Winner, 1:00 p.m