Box Score WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCG Baseball fell 8-4 to the UNCW Seahawks on Wednesday evening at Brooks Field on UNCW's campus. The Spartans fall to 8-4 on the season, and have lost consecutive games for the first time in 2016. UNCW, who is receiving votes in three national polls, improves to 9-2 on the season.
“Our first two innings tonight didn't allow us to get into the game or play how we should have played tonight.” Head Coach Link Jarrett said, “We didn't get out of the gates well. Walks, mishandling the ball, gave them extra opportunities and you can't do that against a good team. The guys battled back and competed the second half of the game, we just weren't good enough early on.”
L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) led the offense, going 2-for-4, with an RBI, a run scored and stole two bases. Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) and Jake Kusz (Durham,N.C./Riverside) also had a pair of hits. Moritz had a run scored in the contest.
Michael Goss (Cartersville, Ga./Chattanooga St. CC) had a pair of RBI in the contest, belting a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning. Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) added another RBI and finished 1-for-4. Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) also went 1-for-4 and scored a run.
UNCG used seven pitchers in the loss. Keaton Haack (Greensboro, N.C./Pitt CC) (0-1) started and picked up the loss after giving up three runs in 3.0 innings. Easton Welch (Randleman, N.C./Randleman) worked 1.0 innings, allowing only one hit and striking out one hitter.
Ben Kerner (Cary, N.C./Brunswick CC) and Andrew Wantz (Holly Springs, N.C./Holly Springs) worked out of the bullpen, combining for 2.0 innings, and three strike outs.
Chad Sykes (Creedmoor, N.C./Voyager Academy) and Woody finished up the game, both tossing an inning. Woody struck out two hitters with Sykes sitting down one.
The Seahawks took the lead in the bottom of the first frame, plating a pair of runs. Brian Mims earned a walk and then was able to steal second base to put the first runner in scoring position. After another walk, a UNCG error put both runners in scoring position. Another UNCG error allowed both runs to score to give the Seahawks an early lead.
UNCW added a run to their lead in the bottom of the third inning. With runners on second and third, Robbie Thorburn singled to right field to bring in the first runner, but the relay of Kalawaia to Shelton to Kusz got Zack Canada attempting to score from first on the play.
The Seahawks added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, using three walks to load the bases before UNCG was able to record an out. A single and a wild pitch brought in the three runs to give UNCW a 6-0 lead.
UNCG cut into the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Moritz led off with a double down the right field line and came around to score on a single from Kalawaia.
The Spartans continued to cut into the Seahawk lead in the top of the sixth inning. Stewart led off with a single and came around to score on a two-run blast from Goss.
UNCW tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. A one-out walk to Mims put the runner on, and a double from Nick Feight gave the Seahawks a 7-3 lead.
UNCG continued the back and forth scoring in the seventh inning. Kalawaia singled to left field and was able to steal second for the second time in the game. Woody singled to left to bring him in and cut the lead to 7-4, UNCW.
The Seahawks continued the seesaw affair, scoring a solo run in the bottom of the seventh. A single from Thorburn put the runner on and a single from Steven Linkous brought him around to push the lead back to four runs.
The Spartans return to action on Friday, Mar. 11th, as they will play a doubleheader against Illinois and Coastal Carolina in the Coastal Carolina Invitational beginning at 12:00 p.m.
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