KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNC-Wilmington Seahawks scored on a walk-off single in the ninth inning to end Indiana State's 12-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory Friday at Brooks Field.
“We played okay but we have to play much better if we are going to beat quality teams on the road,” Mitch Hannahs, Indiana State baseball coach said.
Indiana State took the early lead with a single run in the first but UNC-Wilmington came back with a run in the fourth and one in the sixth to go up 2-1. The Sycamores did come back to tie the game in the top of the seventh but could not get another run across the plate.
The Seahawks Corey Dick hit a one out single in the ninth with UNCW bringing in Stephen Linkous to run for Dick. Two pitches later, Linkous stole second and advanced to third when the throw from Indiana State catch Mike Fitzgerald went into centerfield. Andy Austin was intentionally walked to set up the possibility of a double play but the Seahawks Josh Abshire made sure that would not happen as he singled in the winning run with a hit up the middle.
David Stagg started on the mound for Indiana State and worked seven innings for a no-decision, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking one. Josh Dove (1-1) took over in the eighth and suffered his first loss of the season in giving up a run on two hits while striking out none and walking one.
Mat Batts started for the Seahawks and went 6.1 innings in giving up two runs on five hits while striking out eighty and walking one. Kelly Secrest (4-1) took over in the seventh to earn the win in shutting down the Sycamores with one strikeout, no walks, no hits, and no runs.
Indiana State scored in the top of the first on a Michael Eberle sacrifice fly to right field. Cody Zimmerman had a one out single and went to second on a wild pitch. Jacob Hayes walked and Mike Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch to load up the bases. Zimmerman put Indiana State up 1-0 by scoring on Eberle's sacrifice fly.
The Seahawks Ryan LaGrange tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth as he hit a solo home run over the left field fence. Indiana State's Connor McClain made a good effort with a leap at the fence but just could not quite get the ball in his glove
Back-to-back two-out doubles from Robbie Thorburn and LaGrange put the Seahawks up 2-1 in the sixth.
Indiana State came right back in the top of the seventh to even the score. Eberle and Tyler Wampler had back-to-back singles with Eberle motoring all the way to third on Wampler's hit. With one out, Derek Hannahs was able to get the bat on a pitch out which resulted in a bloop single to right that resulted in Eberle scoring the tying run. The Sycamores had an opportunity to retake the lead but Wampler was tagged out on a close play at the plate when McClain hit into a fielder's choice.
Fitzgerald singled in the eighth but was left stranded and Indiana State went down in order in the ninth.
Indiana State had six hits in the game, all singles, with Wampler getting two singles in four trips to the plate to pace the Sycamore attack. Zimmerman, Fitzgerald, Eberle, and Hannahs each had a single.
The Sycamores (12-2) will play a twin bill against the Seahawks (8-8) on Saturday as Sunday's game was moved up due to expected bad weather in the Wilmington area on Sunday. Right hander Brad Lombard (3-0) will take to the mound in the opening game for Indiana State with fellow right hander Kurt Kudrecki (2-1) going in the nightcap. The Sycamores will face UNC-Wilmington right hander Nick Monroe (1-0) in the first game and right hander Ryan Foster (0-1) in the nightcap.
