CLINTON, South Carolina – Senior pitcher
Casey Rowland (Colonie Central H.S./Albany, N.Y.) became UNCW's career strikeouts leader, but Presbyterian (10-10) spoiled the record-setting moment by sweeping a non-conference doubleheader over the Seahawks (11-6) at the Presbyterian College Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who had their five-game win streak snapped, lost the first game by an 8-0 margin in six innings before suffering a tough 3-2 setback in eight innings in the nightcap.
Rowland, who threw 4.0 innings in the first game loss, recorded eight strikeouts to increase her career total to 490 strikeouts and surpass the previous school record of 483 set by
Keri Malcolmson from 1996-99. She scattered three hits and allowed just one earned run in the loss.
Sophomore
Merritt Wilkinson (Western Alamance H.S./Burlington, N.C.) led the Seahawks' offense by going 4-for-4 with a double in the second game. Rowland also posted an RBI single in the second game while sophomore
Nella Chamblee (Corinth Holders H.S./Wendell, N.C.) added her first home run of the season. Â
How It Happened – Game 1: Presbyterian scored twice in the bottom of the third inning before breaking away by adding five runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Blue Hose added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a wild pitch, ending the game via the eight-run rule.   Â
How It Happened – Game 2: After the Blue Hose took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with an unearned run. Chamblee blasted her first home run of the season to tie the game with a solo shot to left field in the third inning. Rowland gave UNCW a 2-1 edge in the top of the eighth inning with a single through the left side, but a two-run double with one out in the bottom of the frame gave Presbyterian the walk-off victory. Â
Notes of Interest: The pair of losses dropped UNCW's record to just 1-4 away from Boseman Field … Wilkinson became the third different UNCW player to record a four-hit game this season, joining Rowland and sophomore
Claudia Spinelli (Marvin Ridge H.S./Waxhaw, N.C.) … Freshman
Sarah Davis (Walter Williams H.S./Burlington, N.C.) had her six-game hitting streak snapped after going 0-for-4 in the second game … Wilkinson has reached base safely in six consecutive games … UNCW is now 2-1 in extra-inning games this year … The Seahawks went just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position against Presbyterian … The Blue Hose have won three of their last four games after a three-game losing streak. Â
Coach Kristy Norton Says: "Without timely hitting, we won't win tight ball games. We couldn't string multiple hits together and we relied too much on a solid pitching performance. Our hitters have to mature quickly with such a big hitter ahead."
What's Ahead for UNCW: The Seahawks begin a seven-game homestand on Tuesday, Mar. 17 by welcoming Campbell to Boseman Field for a pair of non-conference games starting at 4:00 p.m.
