CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers capitalized on a disastrous sixth inning by the Fairfield Stags, erasing an early three-run deficit with a five-run frame fueled by errors to win their season opener 5-3 on Friday evening at Springs Brooks Stadium.

The Stags stunned the home crowd by striking quickly against Coastal Carolina starter Cameron Flukey. Leadoff hitter Liam Nomura and Matt Bucciero launched back-to-back home runs in the top of the first inning, providing Fairfield with immediate momentum and a 3-0 lead.

That advantage held firm as Fairfield starter Ben Alekson navigated early traffic. Coastal Carolina loaded the bases in the first inning but failed to score, a theme that persisted as Alekson and reliever Ben Miller kept the Chanticleers off the board through five innings. The Stags’ defense, however, would unravel in the sixth.

The decisive bottom of the sixth began with a strikeout, but Fairfield third baseman Walker Mitchell reached on a throwing error. After a walk, a strikeout left two on with two out. Dean Mihos then singled through the right side, driving in Mitchell for Coastal Carolina’s first run. Tyler Mazon followed with another single to right, scoring Jordan Taylor to cut the lead to 3-2.

The inning spiraled from there. A walk reloaded the bases, and a wild pitch allowed Mihos to scamper home with the tying run. The critical blow came from Domenico Tozzi, whose routine fly ball to right field was misplayed into a two-base error, clearing the bases and giving the Chanticleers a 5-3 lead. All five runs in the inning were unearned.

Fairfield managed a response in the seventh, as John Haarde doubled home Noah Colby, who had reached on an error. That unearned run trimmed the deficit to 5-3, but it was the last threat the Stags mustered.

Coastal Carolina’s bullpen sealed the victory. Reliever Darin Horn, who entered in the sixth, earned the win. Closer Colby Thorndyke was dominant over the final two innings, preserving the lead despite two more Fairfield errors in the eighth. The Stags grounded into a game-ending double play in the ninth.

Both teams finished with seven hits. Fairfield’s offensive output was confined to the first and seventh innings, and they grounded into two double plays. Coastal Carolina’s Blagen Pado and Walker Mitchell each reached base multiple times as part of the rally.

The loss marked a frustrating start for Fairfield, which fell to 0-1. Coastal Carolina begins its season 1-0. The teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday.

The most important part of the game was the bottom of the sixth inning, where Coastal Carolina sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five unearned runs. The frame was defined not by powerful hitting but by Fairfield’s defensive collapse, which included two errors and a wild pitch that transformed a 3-0 deficit into a 5-3 lead. This sequence completely shifted the game’s momentum, as the Chanticleers capitalized on every mistake to overtake a Stags team that had otherwise controlled the contest.