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WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW catcher David Sheaffer has signed a free agent deal with the Seattle Mariners and will report to the organization's spring training complex.

Sheaffer, a graduate student, helped the Seahawks to their fifth Colonial Athletic Association championship and back to the NCAA tournament. He closed out his lone season with the program on a six-game hitting streak that began in the CAA tournament.

In the CAA tournament Sheaffer hit an even .400 (4-10) with a double, a homer and two runs driven. His home run in the championship game against Northeastern gave the Seahawks a 3-0 lead on their way to a 7-4 victory.

He continued his late –season tear in the regionals with hits in all three games he played in. He collected two against Ohio State as the Seahawks knocked off the Buckeyes in 13 innings. His biggest hit, though, came against nationally-ranked and regional top-seed East Carolina. Sheaffer's two-run single in a nine-run fifth inning gave the Seahawks a 6-5 lead as UNCW shocked the Pirates, 9-7, in another elimination game.

Sheaffer becomes the seventh Seahawk to be drafted or sign as a free agent this season and for the second consecutive year. UNCW also had six drafted following the 2017 season and Kennard McDowell signed with Colorado following the draft.

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