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UNC Wilmington Athletics

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Events/Results

Team
CAA Sports
2
Elon ELON 30-22
10
Winner UNCW UNCW 32-13
Elon ELON
30-22
2
Final
10
UNCW UNCW
32-13
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Elon ELON 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0
UNCW UNCW 0 0 0 1 8 1 10 12 3

W: Winstead, Emily (14-8) L: Weber, McKenzie (4-4)

Game Recap: Softball | | Brandon Sans

Softball Captures Program's First CAA Crown

ELON, North Carolina – Powered by an eight-run fifth inning, highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Mary Sobataka, the third-seeded UNCW softball team won its first Colonial Athletic Association Championship with a convincing 10-2 win over fourth-seeded Elon at Hunt Softball Park on Saturday.

Sobataka's second career grand slam was one of a season-high three home runs hit by the Seahawks, 32-13, who advance to their first NCAA Regional. The Phoenix, who won two elimination games on Friday, dropped to 30-22 overall.

UNCW will learn its postseason destination in the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday at 7 p.m. A special viewing party will be held at Walk-On's Bar and Grill on Oleander Drive, beginning an hour before the show.

"This team, from start to finish, has dealt with challenges and adversity, but continued to be one solid team," said UNCW 10th-year Head Coach Kristy Norton. "Every member of this team played selflessly. This championship is well-earned by each of these phenomenal young women."

UNCW matched a season-high 12 hits, including seven in the decisive fifth inning. Trailing 2-1, senior Camryn Dean led off the frame with a home run to straightaway center that tied the game. Following a pitching change, Skylar Stockton and Tayler Vitola slapped back-to-back singles to put two on. Senior Janel Gamache then walked on four-straight pitches to load the bases with no outs.

Freshman Mackenzie Amodeo shot the first pitch she saw to the left side, which ricocheted off Elon's Bella Devesa and plated the inning's second run. Morgan Britt doubled down the left-field line a batter later to score Vitola and Gamache, still with none out. Anna Knox was hit by a pitch to load the bases again.

With the count 2-2, Sobataka broke the game open with her grand slam that cleared the scoreboard in centerfield to make it 9-2. The Coastal Carolina transfer rounded the bases for the third time this season and was greeted by a boisterous flock of Seahawks at home plate.

Gamache started the sixth with a single to right-center. Amodeo then grounded into a fielder's choice and was pinch-ran for by Lauren Cope. The next batter, Britt, took the fifth pitch of the at-bat out to deep center that bounced off the wall. Cope raced around from first and slid in just ahead of Elon's last-ditch relay throw to send the Seahawks into a championship-winning frenzy.

Freshman Emily Winstead earned the CAA Most Outstanding Performer award with her second win of the tournament. The league's Pitcher of the Year tossed five innings, allowing no earned runs, and struck out five. Kara Hammock, who was named to the All-Tournament team, locked down the final three outs to set up the game-winning sixth.

Elon cashed in two runs on two Seahawk errors in the top of the first. After a circle visit, Winstead retired the next two Elon batters, Chloe Hatzopoulos and Devasa, to end the frame.

Britt started the bottom of the fourth with her first career home run to pull the Seahawks within one run.

The Phoenix loaded the bases in the top of the fifth with an error and a pair of two-out singles. With the bags full, Winstead struck Hatzopoulos out swinging to end Elon's biggest threat.

GAME NOTES: The Seahawks held each opponent to two or fewer runs in three CAA Tournament games … A third seed won the CAA title for the first time … UNCW is 5-0 on neutral site games … Nine Seahawks recorded a hit … Hammock and Winstead pitched every out for UNCW in the tournament … The Seahawks have limited opponents to two or less runs 27 times … Sobataka and Britt combined for eight of the Seahawks 10 RBI … Winstead lowered her ERA to 1.66.

CAA Softball All-Tournament Team
Emily Winstead, UNCW (Most Outstanding Performer)
Morgan Britt, UNCW
Kara Hammock, UNCW
Janel Gamache, UNCW
Carley Davis, Elon
Chloe Hatzapolous, Elon
McKenna McCard, Elon
Halle Kisamore, Delaware
Emily Winburn, Delaware
Mia Dittoe, Charleston
Noel Dominguez, Charleston


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