WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Sophomore starter Jake Mullis and junior relieverMatt McDonnell allowed just one unearned run and UNC Wilmington scored fourruns in the bottom of the seventh inning to post a 5-1 decision over OldDominion in Colonial Athletic Association baseball action Saturday night atBrooks Field.
The Seahawks won their third straight and improved to 24-13 overall and6-3 in the CAA. The Monarchs fell to 14-21 and 5-6 in the league.
Mullis, a 6-2, 200-pound righthander, scattered six hits in 6 2/3innings of work, giving up one unearned run, walking two and striking outtwo. McDonnell (5-1) tossed two-hit ball over the final 2 1/3 innings,fanning one. ODU starter Parker Friske pitched five innings and surrenderedjust one run on seven hits, striking out five. Reliever Ken Brumfield (1-2)took the loss on the mound.
Junior catcher Magnus Pilegard paced UNCW's 11-hit attack, going3-for-4 with one run batted in. Matt Wright, David Ange and Russ Simmermaneach added two hits apiece. Jeff Eure, David Vilardi and Ross Robertson hadtwo hits for the Monarchs.
With the score knotted at 1-all in the seventh, the Seahawks explodedfor four runs in the bottom half of the inning to stun the Monarchs.Sophomore outfielder Jamie Hemingway started the rally with a double intothe leftfield corner and when it was over, the Seahawks had plated fourruns on three hits, also taking advantage of two ODU miscues.
UNCW took a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the fourth inning when Angereached on an infield hit and moved to second on Pat Massey's base hit.Both runners advanced on Simmerman's sacrifice bunt, and Hemingway lofted asacrifice fly to plate Ange.
ODU tied the game at 1-all in the top of the seventh. With one out,Vilardi reached second when Massey's throw to first base sailed wildly overMatt Wright's head. After Matt Moye grounded out to second and Vilardiadvanced to third, pinch hitter Joe Moore ripped an RBI single up themiddle to score Valardi.
The Seahawks and Monarchs conclude the three-game series on Sunday at2 p.m.