WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Junior Emily Winstead struck out eight in her fourth shutout of the season as the UNCW softball team opened the final regular season weekend series with a 6-0 win over Monmouth on Thursday evening at Boseman Field.

The Seahawks (27-20, 16-9 CAA) spotted Winstead three runs in the bottom of the first after the Hawks (18-31, 10-14 CAA) stranded the bases loaded in the top half of the inning.

UNCW collected nine hits with two-hit nights from the top third of the lineup – Tayler Vitola, Cassidy Relay and Skylar Stokcton. Stockton, along with Morgan Britt and Allison Corbin, drove in runs.

After Winstead worked out of the first inning, bases loaded jam, Vitola and Relay started the first with two singles before two Monmouth errors scored both runners. Stockton added an infield hit and came around to score two batters later on Corbin's single through the right side.

The Seahawks added three runs with five straight singles to start the fifth and put Winstead (12-6) in control. The 2022 CAA Pitcher of the Year stranded eight Monmouth runners, including three in the seventh to lower her ERA to 1.75.

Hawks starter Billie Kerwood (12-18) tossed six innings in the loss.

The series resumes on Friday at 4 p.m. UNCW will honor six seniors – Britt, Stockton, Vitola, Carrigan Ewers, Jentri Meadows and Mary Sobataka – after Friday's game.