UNCW rallies to split series with Cincinnati
Timely hitting, bullpen help Seahawks get a couple of wins
Box scores: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4
Photos: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
What a difference a few swings make.
On the verge of dropping a home series a team picked to finish near the bottom of its conference, UNCW instead begins a new week riding the high of rallying from an eight-run deficit to top Cincinnati 9-8 on Sunday, salvaging a split in a four-game series at Brooks Field.
And with all due respect to Chris Thorburn’s walk-off-walk, Trevor Marsh’s game-winning homer and accompanying bat flip delivered the first iconic moment of the season — although it was the furthest thing from his mind when he stepped into the box.
“When I went up to bat, I was thinking ‘One pitch,’” Marsh said. “I was looking for one pitch only. I wasn’t trying to hit a bomb; I was just trying to get on base and pass it to the next guy. Just clearing my mind and getting on base was my main focus at the plate.”
Top Series Hitters: Kip Brandenburg 6-15, 3 2B, 6 R; Dillon Lifrieri 4-9, 2 RBI; Taber Mongero 4-10, 3 RBI, 4 BB; Noah Bridges 3-13, 5 RBI, SB; Brooks Baldwin 3-17, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R; Ron Evans 2-5, 2 RBI, 2B.
Top Series Pitchers: Jacob Shafer 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 3 K; Luke Gesell 5.2 IP, 4 R, 8 H, 7 K; Bryce Cota 3 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 4 K; Ethan Chenault 3 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2K; Hunter Hodges 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 5 K.
Here’s what we learned from a roller coaster series against the Bearcats:
The Right Approach
Cincinnati pitcher Garrett Schoenle obviously had great stuff on Sunday, but the Seahawks could have made life a little harder on the lefty, as he struck out 11 through four innings — ultimately exiting after having allowed one run on two hits in five innings on 89 pitches.
As Schoenle ran out of gas in the fifth inning, he issued his second walk of the day before handing things off to the bullpen, where things took a drastic turn as UNCW didn’t strike out over the final four innings, but did walk seven times.
Noah Bridges’ eight-inning grand slam was the perfect microcosm of the improved approach, as he homered on a 2-2 pitch after three straight Seahawks walked.
With a chance to tie the game, Bridges thought back to Saturday night’s game, when Beau Keathley struck him out in the ninth on a 1-2 slider.
“I can still see that pitch,” Bridges said. “It was really dirty and I didn’t want him to let me beat me again with it.”
Drawing walks has been a major indicator of success for UNCW so far this season, averaging 9.4 strikeouts and 6.1 walks in wins and nine strikeouts and 2.3 walks in losses.
Against Cincinnati, the Seahawks struck out 20 times and walked 15 in the two victories while striking out 18 and walking five in the two losses.
Almost-Quality Start
Gesell was cruising along on Saturday until the Bearcats used an error to start a four-run sixth inning, turning what had been an excellent start and likely win into a no-decision.
It was eerily similar to his start vs. Western Carolina, where the fifth-year senior hadn’t encountered any trouble until a single, a double and homer quickly spelled the end of his day in the fifth.
Although control issues have been a bigger problem for Landen Roupp, he’s experienced a similar phenomenon, pitching well before and after one big inning like the one Cincinnati had on Friday, when it touched him up for four runs on three hits with two walks.
Aside from that inning, Roupp allowed two runs on two hits and walked two in four innings.
It’s tough to believe the Seahawks are 1-3 in the past four games started by the CAA’s best pitching duo.
Calling for Backup
There were a few hiccups, but the bullpen largely got the job done against Cincinnati, allowing 11 runs on 17 hits in 19.2 innings.
Because of the cruelty of baseball, Hunter Hodges ended up taking the bullpen’s only loss of the weekend on what might have been its best performance, striking out five while allowing one run on two hits in 3.1 innings.
Hodges ran his overall line to 9 IP with three hits and one run while striking out 12.
Meanwhile, Bryce Cota fell victim to a tough call, as what would have been an inning-ending strikeout was instead called a ball, and he gave up a home run — the first run he’s surrendered in 6.1 innings this season.
Per usual and Adam Smith and Breydan Gorham gave UNCW great innings in relief, while Chenault and Carter Holjes were both strong in their debuts out of the bullpen.
Coach Randy Hood said that, given this season’s schedule, the Seahawks are still in the process of getting the entire bullpen up to speed.
“With us not having midweeks the first couple of weeks, we haven’t been able to use as much of the bullpen as we’d like,” he said. “There are still a few guys we want to see get out there and develop in a role, but today’s game, the way it dictated was once we got past that first couple innings, matchups go with who’s hot.”
It Takes Everyone
A few Seahawks took advantage of the extra hacks provided by Cincinnati’s lefty-heavy lineup, as Ron Evans (2-5, 2 RBI, 2B) and Dillon Lifrieri (4-9, 2 RBI) provided some offense after some early struggles.
Hood was complimentary of Matt Yip coming off the bench to play some solid defense behind the plate on Sunday, while Bridges and Marsh both got into the game late as pinch hitters.
So far, the Seahawks haven’t hesitated to switch up the lineup if the situation dictates, using 11 pinch hitters over the weekend.
Riding the Wave
UNCW hit .246 in the series, had an era of 6.25 and gave up another five unearned runs but still escaped with a split.
Pretty good deal when you can still win games in spite not playing your best baseball, and especially with how the Seahawks did it on Sunday, rallying from an 8-0 deficit after three innings.
“When you’re down eight the first (three) innings, you could easily kind of fold the tent,” Hood said.
Instead of folding the tent, this one could serve as a confidence-builder for a team still looking to truly hit its stride.
“It’s huge, especially when you’re down eight runs in the fourth game, looking at potentially losing the series,” Hood said. “Proud of our guys for fighting back; I thought it was a very competitive series … both teams battled, both teams had leads throughout the whole weekend, behind, came back.”
Next up
Appalachian State (6-5) comes to town for a three-game series starting on Friday evening.
The Mountaineers, chosen fifth of six teams in the Sun Belt’s East Division, are off to a good start, taking two of three at Big South contender Winthrop before winning three of four vs. MEAC-favorite N.C. A&T.
A three-game series at East Carolina slowed the momentum a bit, however, as App State was outscored 28-6 in a sweep.