TOWSON, Md.– Sophomore leftfielder Luke Dunlap had four base hits and drove in four runs as No. 21 North Carolina Wilmington (32-11, 13-2) pulled out a 10-5 Colonial Athletic Association victory over the Tigers (19-21, 9-7) in the opening game of their three-game weekend series at John B. Schuerholz Park on Friday afternoon.
Junior lefthander Mat Batts earned his seventh victory of the season. He pitched the first six innings of the game, allowing three runs on seven hits. He issued only one walk and struck out nine.
For the Seahawks, who beat No. 1 North Carolina on Tuesday night, the victory was their sixth in a row. UNCW has also won 11 of its last 12 games.
The Seahawks jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning against senior righthander Mike Volpe. Senior second baseman Michael Bass, the fourth-leading hitter in the nation, led off the game with a single to right. After he stole second base, senior rightfielder Tyler Molinaro was retired on a pop-up to the infield. Dunlap gave the Seahawks a 1-0 lead when he singled to right, driving in Bass. Moments later, sophomore Corey Dick blasted his fifth home run of the season over the right field fence to put the Seahawks ahead, 3-0.
Junior third baseman Ryan LaGrange kept the rally going when he singled to centerfield. After designated Matt Keeler struck out, junior catcher Drew Farber drew a walk. With freshman Steven Linkous at bat, Tiger catcher Andrew Parker tried to pick off Farber at first base. However, his throw sailed down the right field line as LaGrange scored from second base, giving UNCW a 4-0 lead. Volpe finally retired the side when Linkous grounded out.
The four runs allowed by Volpe in the first inning matched the most runs he had allowed in any game this season. The Seahawks' four runs were also the most allowed by Towson in a first inning this season.
Staked to a 4-0 lead, Bats sailed through the first three innings. He didn't allow a base hit until junior shortstop Hunter Bennett singled with two outs in the third inning. In the bottom of the fourth, sophomore leftfielder Peter Bowles belted a solo home run over the left field fence to pull the Tigers to within 4-1.
After his rough first inning, Volpe steeled down and shut out the Seahawks over the next three innings. Volpe was the beneficiary of two double plays turned by the Tigers in the third and fourth innings.
In the fifth inning, Bass drew a one-out walk and went to second base when Molinaro reached base on an error by sophomore first baseman Brendan Butler. Moments later, Dunlap delivered an RBI single to left, giving UNCW a 5-1 advantage.
In the sixth inning, Keeler led off with a double to rightfield. With one out, Linkous drew a walk. After freshman shortstop Terrance Connelly grounded out, both runners moved into scoring position. After Volpe issued an intentional walk to Bass, Molinaro was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run. Dunlap came through again, lining a single to centerfield to drive in a pair of runs, giving UNCW an 8-1 lead. At that point, senior righthander Sean Bertrand relieved Volpe and retired Dick on a ground ball to third base.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Tigers' offense came to life. Junior rightfielder Dominic Fratantuono and Parker opened the inning with back-to-back singles. When Butler reached base on an infield hit, the Tigers had the bases loaded with no outs. Senior righthander Jack Lane came in from the bullpen to relieve Batts. He got Bennett to ground into a double play as Fratantuono scored to make the score 8-2. When third baseman Zach Fisher lined a single to left, Parker scored to cut the deficit to 8-3. When Lane hit junior second baseman Pat Fitzgerald with a pitch, the Tigers had two runners on base. It looked like Lane would escape the inning with no further damage when Bowles hit a ground ball to second base. But, Bass made a bad throw and Fisher scored to make it an 8-4 game.
Junior righthander Ricky Holden came on to relieve Lane and loaded the bases by walking junior Kurt Wertz. However, he finally retired the side when junior centerfielder Brandon Gonnella was retired on a fly ball to rightfield.
With their lead reduced to 8-4, the Seahawks went back to work in the eighth inning against Bertrand. Linkous drew a leadoff walk. When Connelly also drew a walk, UNCW had runners at first and second with no outs. Bass reached base on a bunt single and advanced to second base on a throwing error by Bertrand as Linkous scored to make it 9-4. But, Bertrand settled down after that. He struck out Molinaro for the first out. Then, he issued an intentional walk to Dunlap to load the bases. Then, Dick was retired on a fly ball to short leftfield. Bertrand escaped the inning by getting LaGrange on a fly ball to right field.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers made another bid to cut into their 9-4 deficit. With one out, Parker was hit by a pitch. After Butler reached base on a walk, Bennett singled to left field to load the bases. Fisher reached base on catcher's interference as Parker scored to make it a 9-5 game. Junior righthander Justin Livengood came in to relieve Holden at that point. He struck out Fitzgerald and retired Bowles on a ground ball to third base.
UNCW took a 9-5 lead into the ninth inning and added another run. Keeler led off an reached base when he was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt by Farber, sophomore righthander Nick Cioffi relieved Bertrand. Pinch runner Jared Gessell reached third base when Linkous grounded out shortstop. With two outs and a runner on third, Bass drilled a ground-rule double down the left field line to up the lead to 10-5. However, Cioffi struck out Molinaro to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Livengood retired the first two batters before running into trouble. Fratantuono singled with two outs before Parker drew a walk. When Butler walked on four pitches, the Tigers had the bases loaded and the tying run in the on-deck circle. However, Livengood retired Bennett on a fly ball to rightfield, nailing down the win.
While Dunlap led the Seahawks by going four-for-four with four RBI's and one run scored, Bass was three-for-four with three runs scored. Keeler also added a pair of hits as UNCW outhit Towson, 12-10.
Bennett led the Tigers with three hits while Fratantuono had two hits. Towson stranded 13 runners on base.
The Tigers and the Seahawks will play the second game of the series on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
