Chants Make Historic Run to MCWS Finals: Fans Celebrate the Incredible Journey!

OMAHA, Neb. — Coastal Carolina took a big step toward the Men’s College World Series finals with an impressive 11-3 win against Louisville on Wednesday. They scored five runs before even recording an out, extending their winning streak to 26 games.

Now, the Chanticleers (56-11) will face either LSU or Arkansas in the best-of-three finals starting Saturday. This is their second appearance in the finals; they previously won the championship in 2016.

Interestingly, since the College World Series became a best-of-three format in 2003, the record for the longest streak entering the finals is held by LSU, which won 13 games in a row in 2009, according to ESPN Research.

Head coach Kevin Schnall praised his team, saying, “To do what we did today against such a well-coached team is amazing. We’re one of just two teams still playing, and it’s not by chance. We have really good players.”

Louisville (42-24) struggled, starting left-hander Colton Hartman, who hadn’t pitched in a while. He didn’t last long on the mound. Caden Bodine’s hit, combined with hits by Sebastian Alexander and Blake Barthol, loaded the bases. Walker Mitchell brought in two runs with a shot to right field, leading to a quick exit for Hartman after he walked another batter.

Jake Schweitzer replaced him, but Colby Thorndyke made an immediate impact, hitting a bases-clearing double to extend the lead to 5-0. Thorndyke finished the game with three hits and five RBIs. “When the bases are loaded, the pressure is all on the pitcher,” he noted.

The Chanticleers continued to score, including a two-run triple from Pete Mihos. They remain undefeated (43-0) when leading after six innings.

Coastal Carolina has had a remarkable journey to the finals. They beat Arizona 7-4 and Oregon State 6-2 in previous games, maintaining a lead or tie throughout except for a brief moment against Arizona.

Louisville coach Dan McDonnell acknowledged the level of competition, saying, “What they’ve done is impressive.” His team faced challenges, including a tough decision to hold back ace Patrick Forbes for potential later games.

The game ended Louisville’s season, and Eddie King Jr. shared how special the team was, despite feeling sad about their exit. “I’m grateful to be part of this journey,” he said.

As the finals approach, Coastal Carolina aims for another title, showing that consistent performance can lead to greatness.

For additional insights into Coastal Carolina’s journey, check out the full statistics and analyses available on ESPN.

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