Box Score Baseball Falls to UNC Wilmington 10-7

More Information:    

CONWAY, S.C. – UNC Wilmington (18-4) scored three runs in the eighth to tie it and three in the ninth to take the lead, defeating the 18^th-ranked Coastal Carolina University baseball team (19-5) 10-7 March 26 at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field. Coastal’s four-game winning streak was snapped, while the Seahawks extended their winning streak to 17 games.   The Seahawks scored a run in the first off a walk, a bunt single by Jason Appel and a single to left by Mark Carver. In the second, Rhett Miller brought in Shane French with a sacrifice fly, giving UNCW a 2-0 lead. Coastal came back with a run in the second. With one out, senior Tommy Baldridge (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill) singled and moved to third on a double from junior Tyler Bortnick (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor). Coastal loaded the bases as freshman Scott Woodward (Markle, Ind./Norwell) was hit by a pitch. Baldridge would score on a sacrifice fly from senior Derek Martin (Barnwell, S.C./Barnwell). Coastal took the lead in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Adam Rice (Murphy, Texas/Elgin C.C.) singled to lead off the inning. He moved to second on a single by junior Dock Doyle (Conway, S.C./Conway). Baldridge brought in a run with a single to right and Doyle scored on a safety squeeze by Bortnick.   Wilmington would take a lead in the fifth. Daniel Hargrave walked to open the frame. After getting two quick outs, Nate Hall singled to left, moving Hargrave to second. French brought in both runners with a double to left center. Coastal tied the game in the bottom of the fifth as Baldridge brought in Doyle with a sacrifice fly.    Coastal took the lead in the sixth, scoring three runs. Junior David Sappelt (Saxapahaw, N.C./Southern Alamace) singled with one out. He would go to third on a single from Rice. Sappelt scored on a passed ball from Carver. Doyle singled to right to score Rice and Anderson followed with a single, scoring Doyle.   Sophomore Jeremiah Meiners (Silver Spring, Md./St. Albans) struck out Cody Stanley to open the eighth, but Mike Rooney doubled and pinch hitter Marc Locklear walked. Sophomore Nick McCully (Lakeland, Fla./Santa Fe Catholic) came in and gave up a run-scoring single to Hargrave. Appel then singled in Locklear, making it 7-6 Coastal. The tying run would score on a McCully wild pitch.   UNC Wilmington would take the lead in the ninth on a French home run to right center, his sixth of the season. The Seahawks would add insurance as Rooney and Hargrave singled in runs off junior Jeff Richard (West Bloomfield, Mich./Central Michigan).   Cameron Roth earned the win for UNCW, pitching his second stellar outing against the Chanticleers. He gave up one hit and struck out two in 2.2 innings. McCully took the loss in relief. He allowed two earned runs and three hits in 2/3 of an inning. Anderson started the game for CCU, allowing eight hits and four runs in 4.2 innings.   Baldridge, Anderson, Doyle and Bortnick (the three thru six hitters in the lineup) combined to go 8-for-16 with four RBI. For UNCW, French was 4-for-4 with three RBI, while Hall and Rooney had three hits apiece.   Coastal will open Big South play Friday, March 28 at Liberty. The game time is at 7 p.m., at Worthington Stadium and is the first night game ever on campus.