MOUNT PLEASANT, South Carolina – Junior catcher
Jada Santiago belted out four hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in five runs to lead UNCW to a sweep of its Colonial Athletic Association softball doubleheader against the College of Charleston at Patriots Point on Saturday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who stand 11-18 overall and 6-5 in the CAA, took the first game by a 7-2 score before completing the sweep with a 3-0 shutout in the nightcap. Charleston, meanwhile, dipped to 6-28 overall and 0-11 against league opponents.
Santiago, who also scored three runs in the twinbill, anchored the Seahawks' 19-hit attack. She went 3-for-4 in the opener with four runs batted in and a pair of runs scored before adding a 1-for-2 effort in the nightcap.
Junior
Janel Gamache also added four hits, including a triple, in the doubleheader with three runs scored, while freshman
Tayler Vitola went 3-for-7 with a run scored.
Junior
Logan Bjorson earned the win in the circle during the first game, giving up two unearned runs on three hits over 6.2 innings with a strikeout. Sophomore
Amberlyn Pearce authored the first shutout of her career in the nightcap after scattering four hits with three strikeouts en route to her second straight complete game effort.
How It Happened – Game 1: The Seahawks scored the game's first seven runs, including six in the first four innings, to cruise to the victory. Santiago got the scoring started in the first inning with a three-run home run to left field before Bjorson added a two-run double in the third inning. Gamache upped the lead to 6-0 with an RBI triple in the fourth before Santiago's fielder's choice in the sixth plated another run.
How It Happened – Game 2: UNCW took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a one-out double by Santiago before plating two more runs in the fifth inning. Meanwhile, Pearce was strong in the circle after conceding just four hits with three strikeouts.
Notes of Interest: UNCW limited Charleston to a .140 batting average in the doubleheader with just seven hits … The Seahawks' 13 hits in the first game are the most in a game since a 15-hit barrage against Howard on Feb. 16, 2019 … Gamache and Santiago both recorded their first three-hit game of the season in the opener … UNCW is now 5-1 this season when hitting a home run after Santiago's three-run blast in the opener … Santiago is now hitting .643 (9-for-14) with three doubles and a home run in five games against Charleston this season … UNCW has hit .271 against the Cougars while compiling a 5-0 mark in the season series … Pearce is the first UNCW pitcher to throw a solo shutout since
Rylee Pate blanked Toledo by an 8-0 count on Feb. 28, 2020 … In her last two starts, Pearce has allowed just one run on 11 hits in 14.0 innings with eight strikeouts.
Up Next: UNCW and Charleston complete the weekend and season series on Sunday, Apr. 18, with a single game at noon.
