Coastal Carolina entered the 2025 College World Series with a mind-blowing 23-game win streak. That streak is still intact (26) after sweeping Bracket 1 with wins over all three of Arizona, Oregon State, and Louisville. It is just the program’s second CWS appearance in history and the Chanticleers have played for the National Championship both times. The casual fan may not be aroused by it but CCU’s superpower is consistency.
The sport of Baseball creates parity, sometimes to it’s own peril. That is why Coastal Carolina’s consistent success is so impressive and needs to be talked about.
When I asked Head Coach Kevin Schnall to go in depth on what makes CCU consistent, he said that their program emphasizes “Frees” (walks and HBPs), winning the “big inning war” (half innings where a team scores 3+ runs), scoring first, winning the “race to seven”, and baserunning.
“Scoring first is a big part of our offense. We are 37-2 when we score first. When we get to seven we are 37-1. When we win the big inning war we are 42-1. So as a collective unit that’s what we are trying to do every single day,” Schnall said.
In the 2025 College World Series the Chanticleers are averaging 6.7 frees per game. Coastal Carolina is 2-0-1 in the big inning war. Coach Schnall’s club has scored first in all three games (twice in the first inning, 8 runs). CCU is 2-0-1 in the race to seven. The Chants have 2 stolen bases in 3 games but baserunning spans much further than measurable stats.
“The numbers don’t lie when you score first, get to 7, and win the big inning war. We really take pride in that and try to execute it every single game,” stated Caden Bodine.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Chants. CCU began the season 18-8 overall. However they are a remarkable 38-3 since.
“We talk a lot about work while you wait. Injuries are a reality in the season unfortunately. We’ve had some injuries. The guys that were working while they were waiting were ready for their opportunities. That is what has enabled us to maintain the success that we’ve had this year,” added Schnall.
Schnall was very passionate about how this has been a collective unit and effort. But when you think of players that have developed the most this season using the Coastal Carolina program’s philosophy Walker Mitchell should come to mind.
“Walker Mitchell has done a great job at finding ways on base. He broke a single season record with hit-by-pitches (32), he can inside game. And he has a lot of really quality at bats. That’s why he’s moved himself up in the lineup,” Schnall said about the 3rd baseman.
Opening Weekend of the season Mitchell was batting 9th for Coastal Carolina. In 26 of those 41 games (38-3) the Sophomore out of River Bluff (SC) High School has batted in the Top 4 of the lineup. Mitchell has batted in the Top 4 of the lineup in the last 23 games of the Chants’ current 26 game winning streak. In the 26 games that Mitchell has batted in the Top 4 of the lineup Coastal Carolina is 25-1.
To the naked eye Mitchell’s stats don’t jump off the page (.278 AVG, .833 OPS. 4 HR, 45 RBI, 49 R). However if you take a look under the hood at some stats that Coach Schnall and company value… in those 26 games Mitchell has gotten on-base in a whopping 47-of-100 plate appearances. Only 21 of the 47 trips to 1st base have been via hits (11 BB, 15 HBP, 11 K).
Of course there is an aspect of defense in the points of emphasis. In order to win the big inning war, score first, and be the first team to 7 the team has to play good defense and pitch well. The defense has only made two errors this entire postseason. This season the Chanticleers have made just 53 errors in 67 games (0.79 E/G) compared to 62 errors in 61 games during 2024. Check that box.
Next, on the mound is where Pitching Coach Matt Williams has shined during his first year with the program. Williams joined the Coastal Carolina staff after South Carolina Head Coach Mark Kingston was relieved of his duties.
Simply, in 2024 the Chanticleers pitching staff had a 5.83 ERA. In 2025 the Chants are pitching to a 3.22 Earned Run Average, that is the 2nd best mark in the country. That very large improvement requires many players to take positive steps forward. Plus, CCU also got Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Jacob Morrison back from an injury.
“We are going to attack the plate, in his words, and dominate teams that way,” Morrison detailed that Williams believes in their staff’s stuff.
The 6-foot-8 RHP missed over 600 days of game action due to an arm injury. He has returned in 2025 with a 12-0 record, 2.08 ERA, 102 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 104 innings pitched.
“I envisioned dominance. I worked really hard in the offseason. I had the best staff around me to equip me to come back from injury and be this good. It’s very fulfilling to be able to play at this high of a level and I do not take it for granted the ability to even throw a baseball,” said Morrison about his rehab.
Another important piece to this team’s pitching and defense is their backstop Caden Bodine. During the College World Series he has been the star for Coastal Carolina. Bodine bats lead off but everybody is, and should be, fascinated with how he is able to steal strikes with his pitch framing and cut down the opponents’ run game.
“The strengths are undeniable,” LSU Head Coach Jay Johnson said when I asked him about scouting Coastal Carolina.
“Great starting rotation, use their bullpen really well. Offensively, clear identity, I think that’s really important… They're excellent at getting the leadoff man on base. They use the bunting game about as good as anybody does in college baseball and that’s a 20 year thing that’s not a 2025 team thing. They play really good defense, they don’t beat themselves. They’re very fundamentally sound and they’re going to play the right way. So you have to execute your gameplan and execute your fundamentals to earn the win against them.
Coastal Carolina isn’t just a flash in the pan success. In 2001 Coastal Carolina made their first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Chanticleers proceeded to win five straight regular season and conference tournament championships.
Consistency grew postseason experience, that experience earned the Chants their first couple of Regional hosts. When CCU hosted in 2008 they won their first Regional title.
Coach Schnall noted that 2010 was one of Coastal’s best teams ever. They lost two 1-run ballgames to South Carolina who went on to win their first of back-to-back National Championships.
The Chanticleers proceeded to make four NCAAT appearances in the next five years. Then in 2016 it all clicked. Coastal Carolina swept the Big South Conference titles, won their Regional and went to Baton Rouge and knocked off LSU in a Super Regional.
In their very first Omaha appearance as a program Coastal Carolina won the CWS National Championship, beating Jay Johnson who was the head coach of Arizona at the time.
Coastal Carolina then took a step up in conferences from the Big South to the Sun Belt. They missed the NCAA Tournament in 2017. But after that they punched their ticket five times in a six tournament span.
Now it’s 2025. CCU hosted and won their own Regional. Travelled to Auburn for a Super Regional and won both games. And they are 3-0 in their program’s 2nd Omaha appearance playing for Coastal Carolina’s 2nd National Championship in a 9-year span.
“That would put Coastal Carolina baseball on a different planet,” Schnall answered about the possibility of winning a second National Championship in a 9-year span.
For those proclaiming that Kevin Schnall may not stay at Coastal Carolina for long, they need to think again. Schnall played college baseball for the Chanticleers for four years. He was recruited by, played for, coached beside, and succeeded the living legend and former head honcho Gary Gilmore.
“I love Coastal with all my heart… for me it was never about being a head coach. It was about being the head coach for Coastal Carolina,” Schnall shared.
In total Schnall has been associated with the Chanticleers for 24 years. This may be his first year as the head coach but this season has been ‘incredible not unbelievable.’ Schnall gives a lot of credit to the Coastal Carolina athletic department for the team’s success.
In an evolving college sports landscape baseball programs don’t need financial commitment from their athletic department. Look at Murray State their school didn’t even fund 11.7 scholarships yet they played in the 2025 College World Series. Programs can choose to spread more of their revenue share to other sports.
However the Coastal Carolina baseball program makes it evident that you can build, play consistently, and maintain program success with a little bit of belief and financial backing from the athletic administration.
It is worth noting that both of 11Point7's most popular National Championship nuggets apply to Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers fit the "Hot-Cold-Hot Theory" because of their 10-2 start, 8-6 stretch in March, and current 38-3 run. Besides the year 2000 mid-majors have also won the Natty in every 8 NCAA Tournaments (not every 8 years) since 1984.
Taking down LSU in the 2025 College World Series Finals will be no easy task. But you best believe that this Coastal Carolina team will keep their 'head down, be humble, and stay hungry' as they have preached during their entire time in Omaha.
Coastal Carolina entered the 2025 College World Series with a mind-blowing 23-game win streak. That streak is still intact (26) after sweeping Bracket 1 with wins over all three of Arizona, Oregon State, and Louisville. It is just the program’s second CWS appearance in history and the Chanticleers have played for the National Championship both times. The casual fan may not be aroused by it but CCU’s superpower is consistency.
The sport of Baseball creates parity, sometimes to it’s own peril. That is why Coastal Carolina’s consistent success is so impressive and needs to be talked about.
When I asked Head Coach Kevin Schnall to go in depth on what makes CCU consistent, he said that their program emphasizes “Frees” (walks and HBPs), winning the “big inning war” (half innings where a team scores 3+ runs), scoring first, winning the “race to seven”, and baserunning.
“Scoring first is a big part of our offense. We are 37-2 when we score first. When we get to seven we are 37-1. When we win the big inning war we are 42-1. So as a collective unit that’s what we are trying to do every single day,” Schnall said.
In the 2025 College World Series the Chanticleers are averaging 6.7 frees per game. Coastal Carolina is 2-0-1 in the big inning war. Coach Schnall’s club has scored first in all three games (twice in the first inning, 8 runs). CCU is 2-0-1 in the race to seven. The Chants have 2 stolen bases in 3 games but baserunning spans much further than measurable stats.
“The numbers don’t lie when you score first, get to 7, and win the big inning war. We really take pride in that and try to execute it every single game,” stated Caden Bodine.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Chants. CCU began the season 18-8 overall. However they are a remarkable 38-3 since.
“We talk a lot about work while you wait. Injuries are a reality in the season unfortunately. We’ve had some injuries. The guys that were working while they were waiting were ready for their opportunities. That is what has enabled us to maintain the success that we’ve had this year,” added Schnall.
Schnall was very passionate about how this has been a collective unit and effort. But when you think of players that have developed the most this season using the Coastal Carolina program’s philosophy Walker Mitchell should come to mind.
“Walker Mitchell has done a great job at finding ways on base. He broke a single season record with hit-by-pitches (32), he can inside game. And he has a lot of really quality at bats. That’s why he’s moved himself up in the lineup,” Schnall said about the 3rd baseman.
Opening Weekend of the season Mitchell was batting 9th for Coastal Carolina. In 26 of those 41 games (38-3) the Sophomore out of River Bluff (SC) High School has batted in the Top 4 of the lineup. Mitchell has batted in the Top 4 of the lineup in the last 23 games of the Chants’ current 26 game winning streak. In the 26 games that Mitchell has batted in the Top 4 of the lineup Coastal Carolina is 25-1.
To the naked eye Mitchell’s stats don’t jump off the page (.278 AVG, .833 OPS. 4 HR, 45 RBI, 49 R). However if you take a look under the hood at some stats that Coach Schnall and company value… in those 26 games Mitchell has gotten on-base in a whopping 47-of-100 plate appearances. Only 21 of the 47 trips to 1st base have been via hits (11 BB, 15 HBP, 11 K).
Of course there is an aspect of defense in the points of emphasis. In order to win the big inning war, score first, and be the first team to 7 the team has to play good defense and pitch well. The defense has only made two errors this entire postseason. This season the Chanticleers have made just 53 errors in 67 games (0.79 E/G) compared to 62 errors in 61 games during 2024. Check that box.
Next, on the mound is where Pitching Coach Matt Williams has shined during his first year with the program. Williams joined the Coastal Carolina staff after South Carolina Head Coach Mark Kingston was relieved of his duties.
Simply, in 2024 the Chanticleers pitching staff had a 5.83 ERA. In 2025 the Chants are pitching to a 3.22 Earned Run Average, that is the 2nd best mark in the country. That very large improvement requires many players to take positive steps forward. Plus, CCU also got Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Jacob Morrison back from an injury.
“We are going to attack the plate, in his words, and dominate teams that way,” Morrison detailed that Williams believes in their staff’s stuff.
The 6-foot-8 RHP missed over 600 days of game action due to an arm injury. He has returned in 2025 with a 12-0 record, 2.08 ERA, 102 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 104 innings pitched.
“I envisioned dominance. I worked really hard in the offseason. I had the best staff around me to equip me to come back from injury and be this good. It’s very fulfilling to be able to play at this high of a level and I do not take it for granted the ability to even throw a baseball,” said Morrison about his rehab.
Another important piece to this team’s pitching and defense is their backstop Caden Bodine. During the College World Series he has been the star for Coastal Carolina. Bodine bats lead off but everybody is, and should be, fascinated with how he is able to steal strikes with his pitch framing and cut down the opponents’ run game.
“The strengths are undeniable,” LSU Head Coach Jay Johnson said when I asked him about scouting Coastal Carolina.
“Great starting rotation, use their bullpen really well. Offensively, clear identity, I think that’s really important… They're excellent at getting the leadoff man on base. They use the bunting game about as good as anybody does in college baseball and that’s a 20 year thing that’s not a 2025 team thing. They play really good defense, they don’t beat themselves. They’re very fundamentally sound and they’re going to play the right way. So you have to execute your gameplan and execute your fundamentals to earn the win against them.
Coastal Carolina isn’t just a flash in the pan success. In 2001 Coastal Carolina made their first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Chanticleers proceeded to win five straight regular season and conference tournament championships.
Consistency grew postseason experience, that experience earned the Chants their first couple of Regional hosts. When CCU hosted in 2008 they won their first Regional title.
Coach Schnall noted that 2010 was one of Coastal’s best teams ever. They lost two 1-run ballgames to South Carolina who went on to win their first of back-to-back National Championships.
The Chanticleers proceeded to make four NCAAT appearances in the next five years. Then in 2016 it all clicked. Coastal Carolina swept the Big South Conference titles, won their Regional and went to Baton Rouge and knocked off LSU in a Super Regional.
In their very first Omaha appearance as a program Coastal Carolina won the CWS National Championship, beating Jay Johnson who was the head coach of Arizona at the time.
Coastal Carolina then took a step up in conferences from the Big South to the Sun Belt. They missed the NCAA Tournament in 2017. But after that they punched their ticket five times in a six tournament span.
Now it’s 2025. CCU hosted and won their own Regional. Travelled to Auburn for a Super Regional and won both games. And they are 3-0 in their program’s 2nd Omaha appearance playing for Coastal Carolina’s 2nd National Championship in a 9-year span.
“That would put Coastal Carolina baseball on a different planet,” Schnall answered about the possibility of winning a second National Championship in a 9-year span.
For those proclaiming that Kevin Schnall may not stay at Coastal Carolina for long, they need to think again. Schnall played college baseball for the Chanticleers for four years. He was recruited by, played for, coached beside, and succeeded the living legend and former head honcho Gary Gilmore.
“I love Coastal with all my heart… for me it was never about being a head coach. It was about being the head coach for Coastal Carolina,” Schnall shared.
In total Schnall has been associated with the Chanticleers for 24 years. This may be his first year as the head coach but this season has been ‘incredible not unbelievable.’ Schnall gives a lot of credit to the Coastal Carolina athletic department for the team’s success.
In an evolving college sports landscape baseball programs don’t need financial commitment from their athletic department. Look at Murray State their school didn’t even fund 11.7 scholarships yet they played in the 2025 College World Series. Programs can choose to spread more of their revenue share to other sports.
However the Coastal Carolina baseball program makes it evident that you can build, play consistently, and maintain program success with a little bit of belief and financial backing from the athletic administration.
It is worth noting that both of 11Point7's most popular National Championship nuggets apply to Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers fit the "Hot-Cold-Hot Theory" because of their 10-2 start, 8-6 stretch in March, and current 38-3 run. Besides the year 2000 mid-majors have also won the Natty in every 8 NCAA Tournaments (not every 8 years) since 1984.
Taking down LSU in the 2025 College World Series Finals will be no easy task. But you best believe that this Coastal Carolina team will keep their 'head down, be humble, and stay hungry' as they have preached during their entire time in Omaha.
