HEMPSTEAD, New York – Home runs played a large role in the Colonial Athletic Association doubleheader between UNCW and Hofstra as the teams split a pair of games at Bill Edwards Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Seahawks, who improved to 21-14 overall and 1-4 in the CAA, overcame a 4-3 setback in the first game to defeat the Pride by a 5-3 count in the nightcap. Meanwhile, Hofstra upped its record to 15-13 on the season, including a 2-3 mark in league play.

The teams combined to hit six home runs in the doubleheader, which accounted for 8 of the 15 runs scored in the two games. Hofstra tallied four of the six home runs while junior Merritt Wilkinson and sophomore Ashley Best posted the Seahawks' two homers.

Freshman Haley Lenderman earned the win in the circle for UNCW in the nightcap, upping her record to 4-2 on the season. She scattered just four hits over 5.0 innings while posting a strikeout with two walks.

Wilkinson paced the Seahawks' offense with three hits and two runs scored. She also drove in a pair of runs with her first home run of the season in the second game.

Best, freshman Rachel Willis and freshman Hannah Adamczyk each collected two hits for the Seahawks.     

How It Happened – Game 1: Hofstra used three solo home runs to build a 4-2 advantage the Pride did not relinquish. Sophomore Nikki Michalowski gave the Pride a 2-1 lead with a solo home run in the second inning before junior Michaela Transue upped the margin to 3-1 with a solo shot in the third frame. Senior Kim Smith extended the cushion to 4-1 with a solo blast in the fifth inning.

How It Happened – Game 2: Led by two-run home runs from Wilkinson and Best, the Seahawks surged to a 5-0 lead in the first three innings. Wilkinson hit her two-run shot in the first inning as part of a three-run frame before Best launched her two-run home run in the third inning.

Inside the Box Scores: UNCW was 15-for-31 in advancement opportunities in the doubleheader, including a 7-for-15 showing in the second game … The Seahawks also induced Hofstra into 11 fly ball outs in the nightcap … Hofstra left 17 runners on base in the doubleheader, including 11 in the second game.

#SeahawkStats: The Seahawks evened their record to 3-3 in road games this year and have split all three doubleheaders they have played away from Boseman Field … UNCW improved to 9-1 this year when hitting a home run and posted its first multi-HR game since Apr. 27, 2014 at Towson when the Seahawks had two home runs … Seven different players have accounted for the Seahawks' 10 home runs this season … UNCW snapped an 18-game losing streak against the Pride with the win in the nightcap, marking the Seahawks' first victory over Hofstra since a 2-1 decision on Apr. 10, 2009 at Boseman Field.  

Up Next for the Seahawks: UNCW and Hofstra completes its three-game Colonial Athletic Association series on Sunday, Apr. 3, with a single game at 12 p.m.

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