WILMINGTON, North
Carolina - Jake Koenig's suicide squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 10th
inning scored Hunter Ridge with the winning run as UNCW completed a sweep of
Colonial Athletic Association rival Old Dominion with a 4-3 win on Sunday at
Brooks Field.
The Seahawks improved to 15-12 overall with the win and
remained in the conference lead with a 10-2 record. The Monarchs, who have
dropped their last four, fell to 10-18 and 2-7.
In the 10th, Ridge and Josh Abshire worked losing pitcher
Dean Ali (1-2) for lead off walks and both moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Drew
Farber. Koenig then pushed his bunt attempt to the first base side of the mound
where Ali fielded it and threw home but it was late as Ridge slid across safely.
Reliever Tyler DeLoach picked up the win to even his record
at 2-2. DeLoach loaded the bases in the top of the 10th, but held the Monarchs
off the scoreboard with an inning-ending double play ball to Koenig at short.
UNCW entered the ninth inning trailing 3-2 after Brandon
Shelton's sacrifice fly had given ODU its first lead since the first inning of
the opener on Friday. Michael Bass singled off Ali and moved into
scoring position with two out on a stolen base. Tyler Molinaro doubled in Bass
to tie the game and force extra innings.
Molinaro and Matt Campbell both had two hits for the
Seahawks on the afternoon.
Josh Eldridge and Josh Tutwiler also had two hits apiece for
ODU.
Neither starter figured in the decision. Phil McCarthy
allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and four walks over five innings.
Jordan Ramsey tied his career-high with 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on
three hits and a pair of walks. McCarthy finished with four strikeouts while Ramsey
collected five.
The Seahawks host East Carolina on April 3 at 6:30 p.m.