HAMPTON, Virginia – A four-run fifth inning supported a stellar effort in the circle by junior Kara Hammock as UNCW opened Coastal Athletic Association softball play with a convincing 9-1 six-inning victory at Hampton on Friday afternoon at the Lady Pirates Softball Stadium.

The Seahawks (10-9, 1-0 CAA) collected 12 hits, their second-highest total this season. The Lady Pirates (5-15, 0-1 CAA) were limited to three hits. 

Hammock (5-3) tossed her fourth complete game and surrendered one run, a second-inning sacrifice fly by the Lady Pirates' Brooke Williams.

Hampton sixth-year Emily Workman (1-6) was tagged for eight hits and six runs, five earned, in 4.1 innings.

Senior second baseman Tayler Vitola fashioned her second three-hit effort of 2024 while shortstop Mary Sobataka extended her reached-base streak to 12 games with a single. Junior Lauren Cope and freshman Cassidy Relay also added multi-hit games. 

UNCW scored one run in the first two innings before combining for six scores in the fourth and fifth innings.

The Seahawks sent eight batters to the plate in the fifth inning and produced four hits in the frame with Cope, Vitola and Skylar Stockton driving in runs.

The Seahawks and Lady Pirates are scheduled to resume the three-game series on Saturday at 1 p.m.