April 23, 2008

Final Stats

WILMINGTON, N.C. - North Carolina Central University recorded its best offensive output against a Division I opponent this season, but it was not enough as the transitioning Eagles lost to the 27th-ranked Seahawks of UNC Wilmington 14-8 on Wednesday night in Wilmington, N.C.

NCCU (6-26) scored eight runs, the second-highest total this year behind a 10-run performance against Elizabeth City State, while tallying 10 hits without committing an error in the field.

UNC Wilmington, however, scored 14 times on 12 hits with seven extra-base hits, including five home runs, as the Seahawks improved their record to 30-9-1.

UNCW took a commanding 8-1 lead through the first three innings of play. NCCU made the game interesting by scoring four times in the top of the fifth inning to pull to within three runs at 8-5. The Seahawks responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame to provide a comfortable cushion at 12-5.

NCCU freshman shortstop David Scott (Bunn, N.C.) sparked the Eagles offense by going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Junior third baseman Robert Landis (Winston-Salem, N.C.) had four RBI on two hits, while sophomore outfielder Brian Brice (Pittsboro, N.C.) also had two hits with a run scored for the Eagles.

UNCW was led by senior Jason Appel with three hits, including a double and home run, for a team-best five RBI, while senior Nate Hall added three hits and three RBI with two home runs.

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(UNCW Game Story)

Contact: Tom Riordan, UNCW Assistant SID

NO. 27 UNC WILMINGTON 14, NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL 8

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Senior Jason Appel banged out three hits and drove in a career-high five runs as No. 27 UNC Wilmington topped visiting North Carolina Central, 14-8, in college baseball action Wednesday at Brooks Field.

The Seahawks improved to 30-9-1 while the Eagles fell to 6-26.

Seahawk senior Brett Braxton (1-0) picked up the win in relief, allowing three runs, all unearned, on four hits in 2 2/3 innings. It was Braxton's first win since Apr. 7, 2006, when he defeated William & Mary.

NCCU sophomore starter James Jordan (2-2) was saddled with the loss for the Eagles after allowing 12 runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Joining Appel, who finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, with a 3-hit outing was senior Nate Hall, who homered twice and drove in three runs. Senior Mark Carver also homered, scored three runs and drove in two.

Junior Robert Landis collected two hits and four runs batted in for the Eagles while freshman David Scott rapped out three hits, scored twice and knocked in two of his own.

UNCW scored three in the bottom of the first to take the early lead. Appel drilled a 2-run homer, his fourth of the season, and Hall knocked in Carver, who tripled, with a sacrifice fly.

Freshman Blake Murray plated sophomore Brian Brice with a ground out in the second for NCCU's first run.

Appel added a RBI single in the second and Carver followed with a 2-run blast, his 15th of the season, to make it 6-1. Hall was not to be out done as he connected on his 10th round tripper in the next at bat.

Senior Justin Barefoot led off the bottom of the third with his seventh homer of the season as UNCW extended its lead to 8-1.

After retiring the first to batters in the fifth, Seahawk freshman starter Justin Bradley allowed a single to junior Oliver Jenkins and then walked sophomore Justin Goodson. A double steal moved the runners up and Scott singled to right to knock in two and narrow the deficit to 8-3. NCCU then loaded the bases off sophomore reliever Bryan Booth and Landis followed with a 2-run single up the middle to make it 8-5.

UNCW answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the inning with sophomore Mike Rooney and Hargrave knocking in runs with RBI single and Appel driving in two with a double to cap the scoring.

Hall's second homer of the game led off the sixth and extended UNCW's lead to 13-5.

The Eagles cut into their deficit with three unearned runs in the eighth as the Seahawks committed three errors in the inning. Landis drove into two runs with a bases-loaded single to highlight the inning.

The Seahawks continue their 9-game homestand this weekend with a 3-game series against New York Tech, beginning on Friday at 7 p.m.

Notes: UNCW improved to 17-2 at home this season ... Five home runs were one short of their season-high of six at Hofstra (Mar. 14) ... UNCW committed five errors for the fourth time this season ... NCCU recorded just four ground ball outs on the evening ... The Eagles entered the game with a .909 fielding percentage, but did not commit any errors.