Chanticleers erupt in 1st, beat Cardinals to advance to MCWS championship

Colby Thorndyke went 3-for-4 and drove in five runs, including three in a decisive first inning, as Coastal Carolina continued to cruise with its 11-3 win over Louisville on Wednesday at the Men's College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Thorndyke's bases-clearing double was part of a huge opening inning for the Chanticleers (3-0), capping a five-run explosion before Louisville could even record an out.

Cardinals starter Colton Hartman was pulled after seeing just five Coastal Carolina batters, all of whom reached base. Walker Mitchell struck first with a single that drove in Caden Bodine and Sebastian Alexander.

Louisville (2-2), which avoided elimination with wins over Arizona and Oregon State to play its way into Wednesday's contest, went to the bullpen quickly. However, Jake Schweitzer came on and immediately gave up the three-run double to Thorndyke.

The Chanticleers built a 6-0 lead by the end of the inning and never looked back. Thorndyke recorded his fourth RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, then singled in the eighth to drive in Blake Barthol.

Thorndyke's contributions highlighted Coastal's 26th straight win and sent Louisville home from Omaha.

Mitchell and Dean Mihos each drove in a pair of runs for the Chants. Riley Eikhoff earned the win, pitching 5 ? innings with four strikeouts and three earned runs -- all of which came in the sixth inning.

Tague Davis, Garret Pike and Kamau Neighbors drove in Louisville's runs, with Pike and Neighbors both singling on the heels of a Davis double.

Coastal Carolina, which won the 2016 MCWS, will face the winner of LSU and Arkansas in the best-of-three championship series that is scheduled to begin on Saturday.