UNCW heads to Charleston for a meeting of the division favorites

UNCW (12-6, 1-2) at
Charleston (5-10, 2-1)

Fri. 6 p.m. (CAA.tv) | Sat. 2 p.m. (Flo) | Sun. 1 p.m. (Flo)

One plus for the regionalized schedule is getting two of these this season.

It’s been a fun rivalry since these two teams began meeting annually, back in 2014 when Charleston joined the CAA.

The Cougars have won regular-season and tournament championships in that span, while routinely being a thorn in the side of the Seahawks.

The programs have combined for a few memorable games and a ton of wins, with their meetings usually figuring into the league’s final calculus.

It’s early to declare this one a must-win with UNCW, but it certainly wouldn’t be ideal to fall into a hole this early in the season against one of the teams with a chance to win the league.

Here’s what to watch for this weekend at Patriots Point:

Meet the Cougars

Starting pitchers: RHP Ty Good (2-1, 2.50); RHP Trey Pooser (1-0, 1.10); TBA.

Top hitters: Joseph Mershon (.327, 2 2B, 2 3B, 5 RBI); Harrison Hawkins (.304, 2 HR, 12 RBI); Trotter Harlan (.306, 3 2B, 5 RBI), Brody Hopkins (.235, 4 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI), Ari Sechopoulos (.250, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI).

Expected to compete for a CAA South Division title this season, things didn’t look so good early on, as Charleston was swept by USC Upstate during a stretch them see drop nine of 10 games.

After winning two of three at William & Mary, the Cougar went on a COVID-19 pause and fell in their first game back at Coastal Carolina on Tuesday.

Who knows what lingering effects that might cause for Charleston this weekend, but to this point, the Cougars have struggled at the plate, which only magnifies some pitching issues.

Good has been consistent at the front of the rotation, but Pooser makes his second start of the season and Sunday’s starter hasn’t been determined. It seems likely it’ll be Jordan Carr (0-3, 6.27) or Caswell Smith (0-1, 6.00), but it seems a shaky bullpen is likely to get involved. Overall, the Cougars are allowing 6.6 runs per game with opponents hitting .304

At the plate, Charleston has struggled among an ever-changing lineup, hitting .245 as a team with just three players in the lineup for every game.

Get Some Runs

The hits have been there, the homers have been there and the strikeouts, largely, haven’t.

UNCW has done everything it needs to on offense short of actually putting runs on the board over the past four games, averaging 4.3 per game.

With a few well-hit balls getting picked on great defensive plays, it’s been a matter of luck. Sooner or later, the Seahawks are going to break through and have a few of those fall in.

Otherwise, a little more patience at the plate could be the difference, as NC State starter David Harrison made it through five innings on 68 pitches — 13 per inning.

Charleston’s bullpen has especially struggled this season, so the earlier UNCW can tap into it this weekend, the better.

It won’t take much — Charleston is just 1-9 this season when allowing three or more runs.

Something’s Gotta Give

Thing have started slowly for Charleston this season, scoring just one run in the first inning while allowing three.

UNCW, meanwhile, has come out sprinting, with a 20-6 advantage in the first frame.

Both teams have struggled in the middle of games, with both teams outscored by their opponents in the third through fifth innings — 43-38 vs. the Seahawks and 55-15 against the Cougars over that stretch.

One way or another, someone will find themselves in an unfamiliar position on Friday night.

Roupp, There it Is

It’s safe to say that Landen Roupp made the right adjustment after his start vs. Cincinnati, as the CAA’s preseason player of the year has gone 14.2 innings over his past two outings, allowing three runs on nine hits with 16 strikeouts.

And although he could still eliminate a few walks and hit batters, that’s a long way from his first three starts, when he allowed 11 runs in 15 innings, striking out 16.

With Ryan Calvert, who allowed one run in five innings last Sunday, settling in and Luke Gesell consistently pitching well on Saturdays, the Seahawks will be in excellent shape if they can eliminate the mistakes that cost them eight unearned runs vs. William & Mary.

Going Streaking

Kip Brandenburg’s hitting streak stands at 20 games heading into the weekend, but no one is hotter than Matt Suggs.

Over the past five games, the catcher has pounded out 10 hits (10-19) with two doubles, two homers and five RBI. Suggs now leads the Seahawks in RBI (15) and is tied with Brooks Baldwin for the team lead in homers at five.

Not far behind is Dillon Lifrieri, who has seven hits over the past five games, striking out just one time over that stretch.

Base Hits

• The Cougars lead the all-time series with the Seahawks 16 -15, but UNCW took two of three in the last series between them, in 2019.

• Brooks Baldwin had a six-game hit streak snapped vs. NC State. In all, Baldwin has hits in 14 of 18 games this season.

• UNCW is 10-1 when leading after six innings this season.

• Charleston ranks first nationally in double play rate, turning 1.20 per game.

• Elsewhere, James Madison and Elon canceled their weekend series due to COVID-19 protocols, but the Phoenix will instead play host to ECU.