UNCW Baseball Beats Richmond 12-9 En Route to 3-0 Start in 2016

By Ethan Marsh, Reporter

Wilmington, NC - There was not a whole lot that went wrong for the UNCW baseball team over the first weekend of their 2016 season. Sunday versus Richmond just added to the great success on their first weekend after defeating previous opponents on Friday versus Western Carolina and Saturday versus St. John’s, outscoring them by a total of 43-13 to start 3-0 on the season. The matchup versus Richmond Sunday afternoon started off not in the Seahawks favor as Richmond led 2-0 in the 2nd inning. Despite allowing these two runs early, the Seahawks defense was effective as the team conducted a couple of double plays, which involved Junior shortstop Kennard McDowell making the primary throws.

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The Seahawks’ bats warmed up after the 1st run by Junior Robbie Thorburn in the 2nd inning. UNCW then conducted an 8-run inning in the bottom of the 3rd to put the game away. This surge was partly due to Richmond making some awful plays defensively. These errors included not making seemingly easy catches, not being able to hold on to the ball as in one play at the 2nd base, and not throwing the ball to the appropriate place fast enough as in a case that it was a close safe on the 1st base involving Senior Steven Linkous.
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Richmond’s pitcher similarly to Western Carolina’s pitcher on Friday was not playing well therefore throwing too many balls walking Seahawk players prompting the 2nd run in the 3rd inning and keeping the bases loaded. The Seahawks led 9-2 at the start of the 4th inning.
Richmond did mount a comeback by scoring 4 runs in the 6th and 7th innings to cut the Seahawks lead to 11-8. This was not enough as the Seahawks went on to win 12-9 after the teams swapping runs in the 7th and 8th innings.

​This win improved the Seahawks’ record to 3-0 after sweeping the Buffalo Wild Wings Battle at the Beach. UNCW will next play Tuesday, February 23rd at 4pm versus Coastal Carolina.