AUBURN, Alabama – Senior
Dominique Travers and sophomore
Jada Santiago each hit their first home run of the season, but it was not enough as UNCW dropped a pair of one-run decisions against Alabama State and Auburn to open the Plainsman Invitational at Jane B. Moore Field on Friday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who dipped to 1-5 on the young season, lost to Alabama State by a 7-6 margin before suffering a heartbreaking 8-7 defeat to the host Tigers in a 10-inning affair.
Travers, who made her season debut on Friday, went 3-for-9 in the twinbill with two runs scored while slugging a two-run home run against Auburn. Santiago, meanwhile, authored a 2-for-7 effort in her season debut with a two-run homer in the opener against Alabama State.
Sophomore
Gabriella Hessenthaler added three hits with three runs scored while junior
Emily Langkamp went 3-for-5 in the nightcap.
How It Happened vs. Alabama State: Alabama State overcame a 6-4 deficit by scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the victory. Senior Alexis Sydnor tied the game with a two-run single to center field before an error by the Seahawks plated the game-winning run.
How It Happened vs. Auburn: Auburn, which fell behind by a 7-0 margin in the first two innings, completed the comeback in the bottom of the 10th inning when freshman Jaylin Calvert scored an unearned run on an error by the Seahawks. The Tigers forced extra innings after scoring seven unanswered runs over a three-inning span.
Notes of Interest:
- Sophomore Janel Gamache has reached base safely in all five of her appearances after going 1-for-2 with a run batted in against Alabama State … She has also recorded a hit in three straight games.
- Langkamp recorded the Seahawks' second three-hit game of the season … Gamache had a three-hit effort during the opening weekend with a 3-for-4 showing in the opener against Howard.
- The Seahawks matched a season high with 10 hits in the nightcap against Auburn.
- Travers' home run was the 18th of her career while Santiago recorded her seventh career homer.
Up Next: UNCW continues play with two more games at the Plainsman Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 15, facing Alabama State at 1 p.m. before a 6 p.m. rematch against Auburn. The UNCW-Auburn game will be available online via SEC Network Plus.