Getty Image / © Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images / iStockphoto
The Coastal Carolina baseball team welcomed nearby rival East Carolina to Myrtle Beach for a three-game non-conference series over the weekend. Pirates fans came out in full force to support the visitors.
Police had to get involved at one point in order to prevent a small takeover. The Chants restored order with an attempt to quiet the opposition.
Both schools take immense pride in their baseball squads. ECU is one of the winningest mid-major programs in the sport over the last 25 years.
The university has posted 16 40-win seasons since 1999. They’ve made 21 regionals in that time.
Coastal Carolina has had even more recent success. The Chants won a national title in 2016. They played for another last season.
The passion was on full display across the first two games of the series.
Coastal Carolina quieted East Carolina baseball.
The Chanticleers won Game 1 in dramatic fashion with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning.
REX WATSON WALK OFF GRAND SLAM 🔥🔥🔥
Coastal Carolina takes the series opener vs East Carolina pic.twitter.com/eUxtmHGsSw
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 7, 2026
They then took Game 2 with a convincing 7-1 victory.
The drama was not confined to the diamond alone. Fans were involved in a controversial exchange at one point with police being involved.
East Carolina baseball fans travel well. They had no problem making the three-hour drive to the South Carolina coast for the highly anticipated set.
A few Pirates tried to place an ECU flag along the outfield wall in Game 2. That attempt was thwarted quickly by the home team.
ECU could not take over Springs Brooks Stadium
Coastal Carolina Athletics sent a Police Officer out to remove the flag.
He stated, “Athletics states that the flag can not be flown in the field of play”
My reply: “The flag is sitting behind the outfield wall and outside of the field of play”
Police: “They told me to tell… pic.twitter.com/wgky79kjcT
— #PackTheJungle🏴☠️ (@ECUJungle) March 7, 2026
Fans were told that the flag could not be flown “in the field of play.” After a brief argument, the East Carolina gear was removed.
It’s not an unreasonable ask though some might view it as petty.
Coastal Carolina did not want its opposition to feel at home in their ballpark. Keeping some order between the fanbases was certainly one of the concerns. Branding also played a role.
ECU shamed the Chants for being sensitive, though had roles been reversed, the outcome likely would’ve been the same.
Coastal Carolina administration took no chances of allowing a stadium takeover. The team did its part to keep visiting fans quiet with back-to-back wins.
The Pirates will look to salvage Game 3 on Sunday.