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Wilmington, N.C. - Four UNC Wilmington pitchers teamed up to pitch an 8-hit one-run game as the MSU bats continued to struggle and the Seahawks took advantage of 13 walks to touch up the Eagle pitching staff for 12 runs.
MSU starter
Trey Smith struck out Rhett Miller looking to start the bottom of the first, but then issued back-to-back walks, and the flood gates were open. The Seahawks used three singles, an error from shortstop
Drew Lee, and another walk to push five runs across in the inning.
The Eagles could not find the answer for the UNCW pitching staff, led by starter Cameron Roth who pitched six innings, giving up just four hits and forcing MSU to hit in to two double plays.
MSU finally got a run on the board in the top of the eighth when
Daniel Pugh scored after being hit by a pitch.
Casey Branham got the RBI on a groundout to third. Lee had doubled to center to move Pugh up. By then it was much too little too late as UNCW had built a 12-run cushion.
Michael Fear singled to lead off the ninth, moved to third on a
Michael Fahs single and an
Austin Haney walk, and scored on a Pugh groundout to score the other Eagle run.
The walks really hurt the MSU hurlers as seven of the 13 walked Seahawks came around to score.
Fear was the only Eagle with two or more hits, going 2-4 and scoring a run to lead MSU.
MSU will look to bounce back in their second game of the day against Lehigh, which is set to begin in just under an hour. As always, stay tuned to www.MSUEagles.com for all your Eagle baseball action.
Game Notes:
Winston Bodrick made his Eagle debut, pinch hitting for #J.D. Ashbrook
in the seventh and playing the final two innings in centerfield. Haney recorded his first career hit in the bottom of the seventh. Right-hander Travis Thompson# also made his MSU debut, giving up no runs in 1.1 innings.
