WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCW's Emily Winstead struck out 12 batters in the Seahawks' Coastal Athletic Association softball series-clinching 5-2 win over Charleston on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Boseman Field.

The Seahawks (20-15, 10-4 CAA) used a three-run sixth inning to rally past the Cougars (8-25, 2-12 CAA) for the second straight day. UNCW, who recognized several alumni before the game, will go for their third conference sweep of the season when the series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Winstead (8-4), who tossed her fifth complete game of 2024, was aided by multi-hit efforts from senior Tayler Vitola, freshman Cassidy Relay, sophomore Carson Fleming and graduate outfielder Morgan Britt, who led the way with three hits. Britt and Fleming each drove in two runs as well.

Charleston's McKenna Kelly (3-9) tossed all six innings for the visitors and was tagged for three earned runs and five in total.

The Cougars were on the board first for the second straight day courtesy of a two-run home run off the bat of Halle Cannon in the second inning.

Fleming then evened the game with two RBI singles in the second and fourth innings that scored junior Lauren Cope, who walked twice, both times.

UNCW broke through in the bottom of the sixth with Elizabeth Winstead scoring on a passed ball with the bases loaded. Britt then cleared the bases with a sharp single that scored Relay and Vitola to make it 5-2 and secured the win with a three up, three down seventh by Winstead.