Troy Treks to No. 16 Coastal Carolina

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TROY, Ala. – The top two Sun Belt teams from last season meet on the diamond for the first time in 2019 this weekend, when Troy travels to meet No. 16 Coastal Carolina for a three-game league series in Conway, S.C. Game times are set for 5 p.m. (CDT) Friday, 1 p.m. (CDT) Saturday and 12 p.m. (CDT) Sunday.

Troy and Coastal met four times last year, with the Chanticleers taking three of the four meetings – including their win over the Trojans in the Sun Belt Championship Game. CCU also took two of three in an equally-matched regular-season set at Riddle-Pace Field – the combined scores were 10-10.

The Trojans (10-11, 0-3) will enter the series with some momentum after a two-hit shutout of Maine Wednesday night in Troy. The Trojans bats came alive in the contest, with Sadler Goodwin, Cole Prestegard and Manning Early each launching homers in the contest.

Head coach Mark Smartt will send RHP Levi Thomas (3-1, 3.95) and RHP Bay Witcher (0-0, 4.50) to the mound for the first two starts of the set – Troy hasn't yet named a starter for Sunday's finale. Thomas will look to bounce back from a rough outing last Friday night against Arkansas State, and Witcher is set to make his first weekend start since opening weekend.

SCOUTING THE CHANTS
16^th-ranked Coastal (16-4-1, 3-0) has been one of the hottest teams in college baseball in 2019 – combining powerful hitting with effective pitching all season. The Chants have won the Sun Belt regular season title in each of its first two seasons in the league and were picked to win it once again this year.

CCU boasts two of the top three batters in the conference to this point, Scott McKeon (.395) and Parker Chavers (.389). Two of its weekend starters – Austin Kitchen and Zach McCambley – rank in the top eight in earned run average.

BROADCAST INFO
Online: GoCCUSports.com
Radio: WTBF 94.7 FM
            Online: TroyTrojans.com/Showcase
Live Stats: TroyStats.com

SERIES HISTORY
No. 11 Coastal Carolina (16-4-1, 3-0)
Overall Series: 4-6
            At Conway: 1-2
Streak: CCU W3
Last: May 26, 2018 (SBC Tournament Finals)
            Coastal won, 11-6

PITCHING MATCHUPS (Troy v. Coastal Carolina)
Game One:
RHP Levi Thomas (3-1, 3.95) v. RHP Zach McCambley (3-0, 3.20)

Game Two:
RHP Bay Witcher (0-0, 4.50) v. LHP Austin Kitchen (4-0, 2.62)

Game Three:
TBA v. LHP Garrett McDaniels (0-0, 5.21)

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Players Mentioned

Manning Early

Sadler Goodwin

Cole Prestegard

Levi Thomas

Bay Witcher

Troy University Athletics