Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Overall Rank: #41
Conference Rank: #1 Big South
Coastal Carolina Team Page
The Chanticleers were one game away from making the NCAA Tournament last season, falling just short in the Big South Championship game, losing 3-1 to Charleston Southern. Coastal Carolina will be looking for its second trip to the NCAA Tournament behind an upperclassmen-laden squad that has ten juniors or seniors on the team.
2014: 41-15, 20-4
2014 Postseason: None
Coach: Kelley Green
Field Players:
The Chanticleers bring back their top five hitters, including their top two power hitters, Kory Hayden and Morgan Noad. Hayden mashed her way to 18 home runs and 56 RBI, while Noad knocked 15 balls out of the yard and drove in 49. Bri Chiusano is the perfect leadoff hitter, leading the team with a .392 average, 55 runs, 65 hits, 36 walks and 48-of-52 stolen bases, all team-highs. Kiana Quolas and Amanda Daneker had 34 RBI each.
Pitchers:
Quolas returns for her senior season as the team's ace. She has won the last two Big South Pitcher of the Year Awards and is a three-time Big South First Team All-Conference member. Last season, Quolas went 27-5 with a 1.29 ERA and 198 strikeouts, 150 more than her walk total.
Who to Watch:
Chiusano has improved each season while at Coastal Carolina, raising her batting average 62 points from her freshman year, as well as 19 more steals. Can one really improve on those numbers? It'll be interesting to see what the junior can do. Last year's No. 2 starter graduated and the only other pitcher other than Quolas is Temple transfer Kelsey Dominik. Can she give Quolas relief on the mound?
Final Projection:
Coastal Carolina has a talented and experienced squad returning, so it's easy to see why they would be ranked this high. The Chanticleers bring back an equal amount of power, average and pitching to make them a threat to not only the Big South, but teams from larger conferences as well. Coastal Carolina will be aided by the fact it doesn't leave its home stadium until the beginning of March, except for a single game in mid-February. In four early season tournaments, the Chanticleers will face Power Five teams Maryland, Virginia Tech, Iowa State, Ole Miss and Boston College. Non-conference games with Florida State and North Carolina are also on the slate.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Bri Chiusano, OF, 166
Hits: Bri Chiusano, OF, 65
Home Runs: Kory Hayden, 3B, 18
RBIs: Kory Hayden, 3B, 56
Runs: Bri Chiusano, OF, 55
Stolen Bases: Bri Chiusano, OF, 48
Wins: Kiana Quolas, P, 27
Innings Pitched: Kiana Quolas, P, 216.2
Strikeouts: Kiana Quolas, P, 198
Complete Games: Kiana Quolas, P, 29
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