Columbia
UNC Wilmington
UNC Wilmington Outlasts Baseball, 8-6
3/15/2015 7:22:00 PM | Baseball
BOX SCORE (.html) | BOX SCORE (.pdf)
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Another late comeback bid by the Columbia baseball team came up short as the Lions fell at UNC Wilmington, 8-6, Sunday afternoon.
Columbia (3-6) went to work in the fourth, using singles by Joey Falcone and Gus Craig to put runners on the corners. That brought up game one hero Nick Maguire, who came through again with a base hit to put the Lions on the board. David Vandercook took a walk to fill the bases and Lane Robinette worked a base on balls to extend the lead to 2-0.
UNCW (11-5) cut the deficit in half in its half of the inning on a double, a ground out to move the runner to third and base hit by Terence Connelly. The Seahawks loaded the bases after an infield single and walk, but George Thanopoulos found the inside corner for strike three to limit the damage.
In the bottom of the fifth, two sharp singles to right gave UNCW men on first and third, and a wild pitch brought in Zach Shields to even the score, 2-2. Luke Dunlap reached on a base-hit to left to plate the go-ahead tally and Connelly took Thanopoulos deep to push the margin to 5-2.
Shields appeared to bust the game open in the sixth with a two-run homer before the momentum shifted again.
Will Savage jacked a solo home run to give the Lions some life in the seventh and tried to put on more pressure after Jordan Serena singled with one away. After a diving grab in rightfield for the second out, Falcone was hit by a pitch and Craig tucked a long ball inside the foul pole to pull Columbia within, 7-6.
An infield single and error on a pickoff attempt put Shields on third and Stupienski made the Lions pay with an RBI single to add an insurance run in the eighth.
That would be all UNCW reliever Jordan Ramsey needed as he retired 3-of-4 batters to pick up a six-out save.
Thanopoulos took the decision (0-3), allowing six runs on eight hits to go with eight strikeouts in five innings.
Savage, Serena and Craig all picked up two hits. Falcone has now hit safely in all nine games this season.
The Lions will take on UNC Wilmington for one more game Monday, March 16. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
