WILMINGTON, N.C. -
Tyler Molinaro's leadoff home run in the bottom of the 10th lifted UNCW to a
7-6 win over No. 31 Kent State on Friday at Brooks Field in the season opener
for the Seahawks.
The Seahawks (1-0) trailed 6-4 entering the bottom of the
ninth, but rallied with two runs to tie it and force extra innings. KSU (0-2),
meanwhile, suffered its second one-run loss of the day after falling to
Virginia Tech 10-9 in the season opener for both teams earlier.
In the game-tying rally in the ninth, pinch hitter Matt
Keeler knocked in the first run with a ground out and freshman Terence Connelly
tied the game with a bases-loaded walk.
Junior Ricky Holden (1-0) was credited the win after
pitching the top of the 10th. KSU's Eric Dorsch (0-1) was saddled with the
loss.
The Golden Flashes totaled six errors in the game leading to
five unearned runs.
KSU starter Taylor Williams surrendered just one hit, two
walks and allowed four runs, one earned. Williams held UNCW hitless until the
seventh and retired 15 consecutive batters at one point. He finished with five
strikeouts.
Freshman Zarley Zalewski led the KSU lineup with four hits
while Tommy Monnot added three. Alex Miklos and Jeff Revesz both drove in two
runs.
UNCW was limited to three hits on the afternoon.
Saturday's games have been moved up due to anticipated bad
weather in the afternoon. Virginia Tech and Kent State will now start at 11
a.m. with the Seahawks and Virginia Tech starting 30 min following the
conclusion of game one.
Notes: The win
was the first for the Seahawks when trailing after seven innings after going
0-20 last season ... Mark Scalf moves to 691-537-1 in 22 seasons ... UNCW also
improved to 9-13 in season openers during his 22 seasons, it has won its last
five straight openers ... Luke Dunlap singled in a pinch hitting role in the
ninth inning ... Corey Dick broke up Williams' bid for a no-hitter ... KSU still
holds an 8-7 lead in the all-time series ... KSU landed its leadoff batter on
base in five of the first six innings ... Neither team had a two-out hit, combing
to go 0-18 in that situation.
