Baseball Falls At UNC Wilmington To Split Series

Sunday, March 5

Wilmington, N.C.

12:00 P.M.

Columbia University

2-5

UNCW

6-6

Columbia

UNCW

Photo by: Stephen Blue / Sideline Media Productions

Baseball Falls At UNC Wilmington To Split Series

3/5/2023 4:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Eberly and Dardar each drive in three runs in the loss

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Columbia baseball held a five-run lead in the eighth inning until UNC Wilmington scored 11 runs in the frame to come from behind and win the series finale, 13-9, on Sunday at Brooks Field.

Columbia (2-5, 0-0) and UNC Wilmington (6-6, 0-0) split the four-game series that totaled 88 runs between the two teams. The Lions earned victories in games one and two of the set and UNC Wilmington took the final two.

The Seahawks batted around in the bottom of the eighth inning to score 11 runs on six hits. The sloppy inning for Columbia included two walks, two hit-by-pitches, and a fielding error. The Lions had to use three pitchers to get through the inning. Camron Hubble, Justin Tucker, and Thomas Santana all allowed runs in the eighth out of Columbia's bullpen.

Down to its final three outs, Columbia battled and scored two runs. Seth Dardar singled to left field to score Anton Lazits and Cole Fellows to make it 13-9.

Top 9 | Lions not going quietly as Dardar's third hit of the day drives in two!#RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/NBtLMrTrvp
— Columbia Baseball (@CULionsBaseball) March 5, 2023

The next batter later, Skye Selinsky made a bid to bring the game even closer within reach by driving a deep shot to the warning track but it was reeled in for the second out of the inning. Griffin Palfrey would fly out to end the game as Brett Banks logged the final inning to secure the win.

Lions starting pitcher Joe Sheets pitched five quality innings, giving up six hits, two runs, and a walk while striking out one. The sophomore's ERA sits at 2.00 through his first two starts of the season.

Columbia got on the board first for the fourth time in the series. Weston Eberly grounded out to bring home Cole Hage for the game's first run. Lazits and Dardar each added two-out RBIs to give the Lions a 3-0 lead before the Seahawks came to bat.

Top 1 | Scoring early and often 💪 Lazits and Dardar each with 2-out RBIs in the inning and Columbia leads 3-0 before UNCW comes to bat!#RoarLionRoar

Dardar's double ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/O9emcuci0x
— Columbia Baseball (@CULionsBaseball) March 5, 2023

UNC Wilmington's first run of the game came on an Aiden Evans infield single. Sheets worked around an error and two hits to just allow the one run in the second inning.

The Lions added two runs in the third to take a 5-1 lead. Hayden Schott continued to stay hot with another extra-base hit, doubling in Eberly. Palfrey rocketed another two-out hit to score Schott for the inning's other run.

Top 3 | More 2⃣-out clutch hitting as Palfrey's second hit of the day drives in our fifth run!#RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/dvruds8wP8
— Columbia Baseball (@CULionsBaseball) March 5, 2023

Dillon Lifrieri's third home run of the series to lead off the home third made it a 5-2 game. The next half inning the Lions got the run back when Eberly launched his first home run of the season over the left field fence.

Top 4 | CRUSHED‼️ Weston Eberly has his first long ball of the year to add to our lead! @westoneberly

Lions up 6-2 as we go to the bottom half of the inning#RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/gvH83QaGZA
— Columbia Baseball (@CULionsBaseball) March 5, 2023

In the top of the sixth, Eberly's solid day at the plate continued when he drove in his third run of the game on a double to center field to score Hage to give Columbia a 7-2 advantage. Eberly finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.

Top 6 | @westoneberly is having a day! Eberly just misses his second home run of the game as the Lions add another run! #RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/q5TITYa1yN
— Columbia Baseball (@CULionsBaseball) March 5, 2023

Columbia's season-opening road trip continues on Friday when the Lions begin a three-game series with Alabama at 7 p.m.

For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.