UNC WILMINGTON 5, VA. COMMONWEALTH 3
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Freshman righthanded starter Daniel Cropper carried a shutout into the ninth and junior first baseman Daniel Hargrave collected three hits as UNC Wilmington edged Virginia Commonwealth, 5-3, in the rubber match of a Colonial Athletic Association series on Sunday at Brooks Field.
The Seahawks, who rallied to win the final two games and take the opening series, improved to 9-10 and 2-1 in the league. The Rams, who claimed the series opener on Friday night, dropped to 8-7 and 1-2.
Cropper (2-1) allowed three runs on five hits, walked two and struck out two in a career-high 8 1/3 innings. After issuing a leadoff walk in the first, Cropper retired the next 11 batters and had a no-hitter until the fifth when sophomore first baseman Jared Bolden, who broke up a no-hitter the previous day, singled to lead off the fifth. Junior Larry Salefsky earned his second save retiring the only two batters he faced.
Joining Hargrave with multiple-hit outings were red-shirt freshman second baseman Matt Holt, with two hits and two stolen bases, and junior outfielder Mark Carver, who added two hits and drove in a run.
VCU senior ace John Leonard (2-1) was roughed up by the Seahawks for five runs on nine hits and five walks before being knocked out in the sixth inning. Entering the game the hard throwing righthander had issued just four free passes on the season.
Bolden, who hit .636 (7-11) on the series, led the Rams with two hits.
The Seahawks broke through to take a 1-0 lead on a double steal in the bottom of the second. Sophomore designated hitter Kevin Hodges drew a one-out walk and advanced all the way to third on a 2-out infield single by Holt. Holt then stole second and Hodges trotted home when the throw went through to second.
UNCW added a run in the third to make it 2-0. Sophomore shortstop Steve Halford and senior catcher Jonathan Batts led off with consecutive singles and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by junior third baseman Nate Hall. Carver then plated Halford with a sacrifice fly to center.
In the Seahawk fourth, Leonard retired the first two batters, but walked Holt and Hargrave followed with a two-run shot, his first of the season, to left to push the lead to 4-0.
Halford tacked on another run in the sixth as UNCW built a 5-0 advantage. With 2-outs, Halford singled through the right side to score Hodges, who singled to open the frame, from the second.
The Rams made it a game in the ninth with three runs to cut the deficit to 5-3, but couldn't get any closer. Two of those runs came off the bat of junior shortstop Sergio Miranda,who slammed a one-out 2-run homer to right off Cropper. Pinch hitter Barrett Ripley plated the final run with a sacrifice fly to right later in the inning.
VCU looked to cut into the lead earlier in the game, but Cropper closed out three innings with ground ball double plays to keep the Rams off the board.
The Seahawks close out their brief 4-game homestand on Tuesday when they host nationally ranked Coastal Carolina. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
