JACKSONVILLE, Florida – UNCW used seven extra-base hits, including three home runs, and a pair of solid pitching efforts to open play at the Jacksonville/UNF Spring Break Challenge with a pair of wins over Cleveland State and North Florida at the UNF Softball Field on Friday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who upped their record to 11-9 overall with a three-game win streak, blanked Cleveland State in the tournament opener by a 4-0 margin before posting an 8-2 comeback victory over North Florida.
UNCW, which outhit Cleveland State and North Florida by a combined 19-6 margin, received three-hit efforts from redshirt junior
Rachel Willis, junior
Dominique Travers and sophomore
Carson Shaner en route to the sweep.
Travers and Shaner each blasted a home run while combining to drive in four runs. Willis, meanwhile, went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in the victory over North Florida.
Junior
Rylee Pate earned the victory in the circle against Cleveland State, upping her record to 6-3 after scattering two hits over 5.0 innings with three strikeouts.
Senior
Haley Lenderman posted her second win of the season in the victory over North Florida, allowing two runs on two hits with three strikeouts. Freshman
Kelly Toomey earned the save after throwing 3.0 scoreless innings in relief.
How It Happened vs. Cleveland State: Freshman
Casey Jones' infield single in the top of the first inning gave the Seahawks a 1-0 lead they did not relinquish. UNCW added two more runs in the third inning before Jones blasted a solo home run in the fifth inning for a 4-0 advantage. Pate, meanwhile, teamed up with two relievers to throw a two-hit shutout with four strikeouts.
How It Happened vs. North Florida: The Seahawks broke a 2-all tie by erupting for six unanswered runs, including five runs in the fifth inning. Shaner blasted a two-run home run to give UNCW a 4-2 lead before Willis and freshman
Taylor Smith each had RBI doubles. Senior
Hannah Adamczyk added an RBI double in the seventh to extend the margin to 8-2.
Up Next: UNCW continues play at the Jacksonville/UNF Spring Break Challenge on Saturday, Mar. 9, with a pair of games at Jacksonville. The Seahawks will face Georgetown at 4:30 p.m. before a 7 p.m. contest against the host Dolphins.
