May 26, 2004
WILMINGTON, NC-- UNC Wilmington scored five runs in the third inning and then held offthe Monarchs ninth inning rally for a 6-4 victory in the first round of the ColonialAthletic Association Tournament.
ODU will now play top seed George Mason Thursday at12 noon in the elimination game. GMU lost to Delaware, 8-5 in ten innings Wednesday.
Matt Poulk got UNCW stared with a lead-off double. With one out Chip Grawey doubled toput runners on second and third. A passed ball scored Poulk and Grawey then scored on LeeMcLean's fielders choice groundout. Matt Sutton then tripled when two of ODU's outfielderscollided scoring McLean. Anthony Smith singled to scored Sutton and then John Raynor'ssingled scored Neal Eichorn to give the Seahawks a 5-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, Brandon Carter doubled home Dana Arrowood, but UNCW came rightback in the seventh when Lee McLean doubled, then scored on a wild pitch by Justin Verlander.
In the ninth the Monarchs scored three runs off All-CAA reliever Blake Cross. DerekJames led off with a double, then scored on an error. With the bases loaded C.J. Leewas hit with a pitch which scored Brandon Carter. The final ODU run came on JustinGregula's single which scored Allen Strick. Cross then settled down and got the nexttwo Monarchs out.
Brandon Carter and Derek James led ODU with two hits each. Justin Verlander (7-6)gave up eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He hit four batters tyingthe CAA tournament singled game mark. UNCW's Zach Kimball allowed only one run withfour walks and four strikeouts.
ODU 000 001 003 =4-8-0UNCW 005 000 10x =6-8-1
WP: Zach Kimball(7-5)LP: Justin Verlander(7-6)