FAIRFAX, Va. – UNCW put 17 hits on the board and was able to stay one step ahead of the Mason baseball team all day as it slugged its way to an 8-3 win on Saturday afternoon at Spuhler Field.
The Seahawks won the second game of the weekend conference series, improving to 29-11 overall and 11-2 in the CAA, while the Patriots fell to 13-27 overall and 5-15 in league action. Ricky Holden earned the win in relief (5-1), and Mason starter Anthony Montefusco (2-5) took the loss.
UNCW combined for three runs on seven hits over the first two innings, receiving RBI hits from Corey Dick, Ryan LaGrange and Michael Bass to put the Seahawks up, 3-0.
A scary set of events started off the bottom of the second. Tucker Tobin led off and singled a shot up the middle that hit off of UNCW starter Jordan Ramsey. He was able to leave the field on his own power, and was replaced by Ricky Holden who gave up a single to his first batter faced, Montefusco. One batter later Esposito singled to left and Josh Leemhuis walked to load the bases with two out however; Brandon Gum struck out to end the Mason threat.
Montefusco helped his own cause in the bottom of the fourth, drilling a shot to straightaway center for his first home run of the season to chip away at the UNCW lead, 3-1. One batter later Patrick Esposito recorded his first home run as a Patriot, sending the ball over the wall in left field to pull Mason to within a run, 3-2.
UNCW got both of those runs back and more in the top of the fifth as Corey Dick walked, advanced to second on a balk and scored on a double to deep left center by Ryan LaGrange to put the advantage back at two runs, 4-2. One out later Drew Farber hit a two run shot to left, pushing the UNCW lead to 6-2.
Mason crept back to within three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The hot-hitting Leemhuis led off with a triple and came home on a groundout by Brandon Gum to leave the scoreboard at 6-3.
Adding insurance runs in the top of the ninth, Moninaro led off with a double and scored on a single from Dunlap. Keeler then got Dunlap home with an RBI single for the final 8-3 margin.
Leemhuis finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored, Montefusco went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Patrick Esposito finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. On the mound, Montefusco worked 4.2 innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. Tanner Love was strong in 3.1 innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts, while Tyler Mocabee and Neight Hoffa combined to finish the game.
Coming on in relief of the injured Ramsey, Holden earned the win after 2.2 innings of work, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Blaze Tart threw the next 2.2 innings, giving up a run on four hits with a strikeout before the Seahawks used three additional pitchers to close the game. At the plate, Bass finished 4-for-5 with an RBI, LaGrange 3-for-5 with two RBI and Farber 1-for-4 with an RBI.
The Patriots and Seahawks wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. from Spuhler Field. It is alumni day, little league day, and after the game the team will host its Vs. Cancer fundraiser. Several members of the team will shave their heads to help create awareness for the fight against childhood cancer. To learn more about the program or to make a donation click here.
