WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Led by sophomore
Claudia Spinelli (Marvin Ridge H.S./Waxhaw, N.C.), the UNCW softball team used a 22-hit attack to earn a pair of victories over Norfolk State and Youngstown State at the University Area Hampton Inn Showcase at Boseman Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who improved to 8-2 at home and 9-4 overall, posted an 8-1 victory over the Spartans (0-2) in their first game before rallying to edge the Penguins (3-5) by an 8-7 count in the final game of the day.
Spinelli posted five hits in the two victories and drive three runs with a double and a triple. She went 4-for-4 in the win over Norfolk State with a pair of RBI before adding a hit with a run batted in against the Penguins in the nightcap.
Senior pitcher
Casey Rowland (Colonie Central H.S./Albany, N.Y.) added four hits, including her team-leading seventh double of the season, while driving in three runs. She also earned the win in the circle against Norfolk State after allowing just one run on two hits in six innings while posting 10 strikeouts.
Sophomore pitcher
Peyton Jordan (Marvin Ridge H.S./Waxhaw, N.C.) claimed the victory in the circle against Youngstown State after throwing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts and one walk. She also pitched an inning against Norfolk State and posted two strikeouts.
How It Happened vs. Norfolk State: The Seahawks surged out to a 6-0 lead in the first five innings, including a three-run effort in the fifth inning. After Norfolk State narrowed the gap to 6-1 in the sixth inning, UNCW added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Rowland and an RBI triple from Spinelli. Â
How It Happened vs. Youngstown State: The Penguins claimed an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single by junior infielder
Miranda Castiglione (Brampton, Canada) before an RBI single from Rowland and a sacrifice fly by Spinelli in the bottom of the frame gave UNCW a 2-1 edge.
The Penguins tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third inning before the Seahawks used a three-run output in the bottom of the frame for a 5-2 advantage.
A five-run spurt over the next three innings reclaimed the lead for Youngstown State, but UNCW tied the game at 7-7 with a two-run double by freshman
Sarah Davis (Walter Williams H.S./Burlington, N.C.).
The Seahawks won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a single by freshman shortstop
Kelsey Bryan (Garner Magnet H.S./Garner, N.C.) and subsequent throwing error by the Penguins, allowing freshman
Anna DeVane (Harrells Christian H.S./Elizabethtown, N.C.) to score.
Notes of Interest: The Seahawks have won six of their last seven games, including their last three in a row … With a season-high 10 strikeouts against Norfolk State, Rowland now has 479 career strikeouts … She needs five strikeouts to surpass
Keri Malcolmson (1996-99) as the Seahawks' all-time leader … UNCW tied a season high with 13 hits against Norfolk State, marking the fourth 10-hit game for the Seahawks this year … The Seahawks have now outscored their opponents by a combined 27-9 in the third and fourth innings … Bryan has now reached base in nine consecutive games while Rowland has reached base in seven straight games … Spinelli has a four-game hit streak … The Seahawks set a school record by having four batters hit by a pitch against Youngstown State … The Penguins defeated Norfolk State by a 9-3 margin in the first game of the tripleheader on Saturday. Â
What's Ahead for UNCW: The Seahawks wrap up play at the University Area Hampton Inn Showcase on Sunday with a pair of games. UNCW will face Youngstown State at approximately 1 p.m. before finishing the tournament against Norfolk State at 3:30 p.m.
