WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Towson University baseball team and UNCW engaged in a furious back-and-forth game to open the weekend series, with the Tigers just coming up short in an 8-7 defeat.
 
Towson (9-24, 0-7 CAA) led after five innings at UNCW (19-13, 4-3 CAA) as the Seahawks took the lead with three combined runs in the eighth.  Towson looked for a final rally in the ninth, with Elijah Dickerson hitting an RBI single to get the tying run on base, but just came up short.
 
Key Stats:

• Elijah Dickerson had a strong day at the plate, hitting 3-for-5 with a two-run home run, two runs and three RBI.  Nolan Young finished 2-for-5, earning a double, two runs and an RBI.
• On the mound, Nate Habholz had a no-decision in his start, having five runs and a strikeout in 2.1 innings.  Reliever Nolan Bolt (0-3) got the loss with three runs, only two earned, in two-and-two-thirds with two strikeouts.  Cam Clark and Jake Pecilunas each had scoreless relief outings, combining for three innings.
• For UNCW, Ethan Baucom with a two-run home run, going 1-for-3 with three RBI and a sacrifice fly.  Starter R.J. Sales did not decision off 4.2 innings, six runs and nine strikeouts.  Reliever Jason Hudak (2-0) had the victory on two-and-one-third scoreless innings with Hunter Hodges getting his fourth save with the ninth inning pitched, allowing a run and striking out three.

How It Happened:

• With back-to-back leadoff singles in the first, a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly by UNCW gave the Seahawks a 1-0 lead.
• In the top of the second, Jack McLaughlin sent a ball opposite way for a double.  Two batters later, Nolan Young did the same thing for a double to right to score McLaughlin.  Burke Camper reached on a strike three wild pitch, then next batter, a missed catch at the plate on a bunt allowed another run to score to make it 2-1 Towson.
• UNCW tied the game up in the following half-inning with a two-out RBI single to make it 2-2.
• Chandler Castleberry walked, stole second and advanced to third on a second out fly out.  Elijah Dickerson took a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence for a two-run home run and a 4-2 Towson advantage.
• UNCW retook the lead in the next half-inning.  The first three Seahawks earned hits, capped by a Matt Suggs RBI ground rule double.  An Ethan Baucom sacrifice fly followed by a Jac Croom RBI single gave the home team a 5-4 lead.
• Towson played heads-up ball in the top of the fifth, loading the bases on an error, single and walk.  Jake Lysaght reached on a fielder's choice for an RBI, and a subsequent throwing error by the shortstop allowed another run to score to push Towson ahead 6-5.
• UNCW tied it up again in the bottom of the sixth off another sacrifice fly, bringing in an unearned run, to set the score at 6-6.
• Dickerson got back into scoring position on a one-out single and error in the seventh but was stranded.  In the bottom half of the inning, Baucom hit a one-out, two-run home run to left-center to get UNCW back ahead 8-6.
• Towson looked to come back in the ninth, beginning with James Moses drawing a one-out walk and advancing via wild pitch.  Two batters later, Dickerson ripped a ball through the left side for an RBI single, putting the tying run on first, but a strikeout ended the inning as UNCW held on 8-7.

Inside the Numbers:

• Jake Pecilunas made his 96^th career pitching appearance, adding to the Towson program record.
• Elijah Dickerson moves into second on the team with five home runs and first with 23 RBI.
• Danny Becerra has reached base in 10 consecutive games while Nolan Young has gotten on base in his last seven games.

Next Game:
Towson returns to Brooks Field tomorrow for a 4 p.m. game vs. UNCW.
 
- TowsonTigers.com –