WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Junior
Jada Santiago belted out three hits and drove in four runs to lead UNCW to a split of its Colonial Athletic Association softball doubleheader against Elon at Boseman Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who ran their record to 14-23 overall and 8-9 in the CAA, won the first game by a 3-2 margin before dropping a 6-2 verdict in the nightcap. Elon, meanwhile, stands at 17-18 overall with a 10-7 mark in the circuit.
Santiago, who recorded at least one hit in both games, went 3-for-6 with a home run and a run scored in addition to her four runs batted in. She blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning during the opener to give the Seahawks a 3-2 lead they did not relinquish.
Freshman
Tayler Vitola also tallied three hits in the Seahawks and scored twice, while three other players chipped in a hit.
Graduate student
Rylee Pate earned the win in the circle for UNCW during the opener, allowing two runs on seven hits with a season-high eight strikeouts. Junior
Logan Bjorson threw a scoreless seventh inning to nail down her third save of the season.
How It Happened – Game 1: After Elon took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run single by sophomore
Carley Davis, Santiago reclaimed the advantage in the bottom of the frame when she blasted her third home run of the season, a two-run shot to right center field off graduate student
Kenna Quinn.
How It Happened – Game 2: The Phoenix took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when senior
Ally Repko hit her ninth home run of the season with a two-run shot to right field. UNCW narrowed the gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Santiago, but Elon responded by scoring three runs in the fourth inning for a 5-1 lead the Phoenix did not surrender.
Notes of Interest: Bjorson tied the UNCW single-season record with her third save, becoming the third pitcher in program history to reach the mark …
Janet Bullard had three saves in 1986, while
Jamie Gostyla matched the mark during the 2002 season … It is also the Seahawks' fifth save of the campaign, setting a program record … UNCW equaled a program single-game record by turning three double plays in the first game … It is the fourth time the Seahawks have posted three double plays in a game, but the first since Mar. 24, 1999, against North Carolina … Santiago has reached base safely in 10 consecutive games while junior
Gabriella Hessenthaler has a five-game streak … Vitola posted her team-leading 13th multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-4 effort in the second game … Pate moved into sole possession of 10th place on the Seahawks' career strikeouts list (237) … UNCW and Elon combined to leave 18 runners on base in the second game while going 9-for-27 in advancement opportunities.
Up Next: UNCW and Elon finish the weekend series on Sunday, May 2, with a single game at noon.
