WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Junior pitcher
Peyton Jordan allowed just five hits over 12.0 innings, including 7.0 innings of relief, as UNCW earned a series sweep over Columbia by claiming a pair of wins over the Lions at Boseman Field on Friday evening.
The Seahawks, who improved to 19-9 on the season, earned a 6-1 victory in the first game before holding off Columbia by a 2-1 margin in a school-record 15-inning affair in the nightcap. Columbia, which had its losing streak extended to 11 straight games, dropped to 3-14 on the season.
Jordan upped her record to 10-2 on the season after receiving the win in both games. She scattered just two hits in five innings during the first game with four strikeouts before throwing seven scoreless innings in relief in the nightcap. She allowed just three hits and struck out a season-high six batters while not allowing a walk.
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Freshman
Lacey Fox and sophomore
Kelsey Bryan each tallied four hits in the doubleheader sweep. Fox was 3-for-3 in the first game with two runs scored and an RBI while Bryan posted three hits in the second game.
Junior outfielder
Merritt Wilkinson also tallied two hits in the first game while scoring twice and driving in a run.
How It Happened – Game 1: The Seahawks surged out to a 6-0 lead over the Lions, including a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings. Columbia ended the shutout bid in the top of the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly by
Maddie Gott. Â Â
How It Happened – Game 2: Freshman
Rachel Willis drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 15th inning when she hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score senior
Erin Brown from third base. Brown had reached on a double to center field before advancing on a wild pitch. Â Â
Inside the Box Scores: The teams combined to throw 432 pitches in the second game and tallied 103 at-bats … Jordan induced 24 ground ball outs in her two outings, including 13 in the second game … The Seahawks had their leadoff hitter reach base in 10 of their 21 innings at the plate … The teams were a combined 24-for-52 in advancement opportunities in the second game after a 10-for-23 showing in the opener … Junior
Kayla Maloney threw all 14.2 innings for Columbia in the second game, posting 224 pitches while tallying four strikeouts. Â Â
#SeahawkStats: The 15-inning affair marked the longest game in terms of innings in UNCW history … The previous mark was 13 innings, set on Apr. 28, 2013 in a 3-1 win over Drexel … The 15-inning affair is also the longest game in NCAA Division I softball this season … The previous high was 12 innings, which was set three times … UNCW improved to 5-0 in extra-inning games this season … The Seahawks extended their win streak to six straight games … With a 19-9 record, UNCW has matched its win total from last year … Jordan has earned the decision in six of the Seahawks' last seven games … She has also not allowed a run in her last 21.0 innings in the circle and has given up just 11 hits while posting 14 strikeouts with just one walk … Jordan also became the first UNCW pitcher to reach 10 wins since
Casey Rowland accomplished the feat in 2012 and 2013.
Up Next for the Seahawks: UNCW opens Colonial Athletic Association play next weekend by hosting James Madison for a three-game series. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday, Mar. 25 at 1 p.m. before a single game on Saturday, Mar. 26 at 1 p.m.
