Coastal Carolina scored early and often, and got solid outings from its pitching staff as it took two games from High Point Saturday afternoon, 16-0 and 8-1.

The Chants pounded out 31 hits on the day as they improved to 24-13 overall, 6-2 in the Big South, while the Panthers dropped to .500 at 17-17 overall, and 4-4 in the conference.

Steven Carter pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout in the opener as he improved to 7-2 on the season. Carter gave up a solid single to Justin Keegan to begin the game, but shut the door from there, as he pitched around four walks while striking out five.

Coastal got all the offense it would need in the first inning, scoring three runs as the first six batters all reached base. High Point starter Nick Zaio (0-1) took the loss, going just one-third of an inning as he allowed the three runs on five hits and a walk. Panther reliever Clayton Gordner got them out of the first inning jam with a double-play ball, but did not fare as well from there out, allowing 12 runs (10 earned) on 10 hits and three walks in 4.0 innings of work.

Brandon Powell led the Chanticleer attack with a 4-for-4, two RBI performance, scoring three runs, while Adam Keim and Steve Pinnochio added three hits each, including Keim's Big South-leading ninth home run of the year.

High Point bounced back in game two, scoring a run in the first inning on doubles from Chris Vinar and Ken Keesee. Panther starter Riley Gostisha protected that lead early, but an RBI single from Ryan McGraw tied the game in the third, and the Chants went ahead to stay in the fourth on Randy McGarvey's run-scoring hit. Back-to-back home runs by McGraw and Powell extended the lead to 4-1 in the fifth, and the Chants iced it with four more in the sixth.

Coastal starter Brian Fischer pitched well, scattering six hits, but did not receive a decision, leaving the game after 4.1 innings of work, with two runners on. Reliever Justin Sturge (6-2) pitched 1.2 perfect innings for the win, striking out two, while Keim finished the game off in the seventh. Gostisha (5-3) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) and 10 hits in 4.2 innings.

The Panthers will try to avoid a sweep on Sunday at 2:00 pm.