Mike Fuentes' eighth-inning single scored Aaron Verrett with the game's only run and lifted Coastal Carolina to a 1-0 win over High Point Saturday in the Big South Conference baseball opener for both teams at Erath Field.

HPU's Eammon Portice (3-1) was saddled with the hard-luck loss despite holding the nation's No. 28-ranked team to two hits in eight innings of work. Ricky Shefka (3-0) threw eight scoreless innings to earn the win for the Chants.

Coastal improves to 16-3 (1-0 in the Big South), while the Panthers dip to 9-13 (0-1). High Point out-hit the Chants by a 7-2 count.

Mike Costanzo picked up his fourth save of the year after throwing a scoreless ninth.

Portice struck out five and walked three, while Shefka fanned eight and scattered six hits without walking a batter.

Before the eighth, the teams had combined to advance runners past second base on three occasions (Coastal's Chris Todd in the first, High Point's Chris Ramirez in the fourth and Matt Christie in the sixth).

Verrett drew a lead-off walk in the top of the eighth, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by D.J. Burns, and scored on Fuentes' base hit up the middle. The tally snapped a streak of 16 1/3 scoreless innings tossed by Portice (the reigning Big South Pitcher of the Week).

Mark Shorey and Matt Kniginyzky combined to toss a scoreless ninth for HPU. Costanzo entered for the Chants in the bottom of the frame and coaxed a strikeout and groundout before Josh Cotten ripped a base-hit down the left-field line, but CCU leftfielder Kevin Entsminger came up firing and threw out Cotten at second to end the game.

Ramirez had two hits for the Panthers, who were shut out for the first time this season.

The Chants and Panthers continue their three-game series Sunday at 1:00 pm at Erath Field, with the finale set for Monday at 2:30 pm. Click here for live stats.