Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Feb. 22, 2001, edition 1 / Page 17
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18 THE SEAHAWK/FEBRUARY 22l_2DD1 Seahawks take third game from George Washington Ben Jones Sports Editor Eariy runs combined with a strwig de fense enabled UNC Wilmington to defeat the Colonials of Geoige Washington, 8-4, Starting jjitcher Jake MuUis and the other Seahawks retired the first 12 GWTJ batters Sunday at Brooks Field. The Seahawks forced four straight three-and-outs to start the final game of the three-game series. Quite the opposite, UNCW put up four runs in the first inning while going through the entire lineup with all nine batters getting a turn at the plate. After junior David McKenna hit a double to center field, redshirt junior Kevin Hairr singled to right field to bring McKenna home. Senior David Ange and junior Magnus Pikgard each added RBIs off a double and single, respectively. “We came out with an attitude,” said Hairr, who stole three bases in the game, “We knew what we were supposed to do.” The Seahawks’attitude led to similar suc cess in the second inning. Both McKenna and Hairr crossed home plate for the second Women’s, frdm page 1 7 other a chance at victory. UNCW fell into a drought in which they scored only 10 points during the first 14 1/2 min utes of the second half. That is when point-guard Jennifer Kapper came to the rescue. Kapper nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing to cut the Eagle lead to 42-40 at the 5:26 mark. Kapper then found Williams, whose driving lay-up tied the game at 42. Sensing a chance at their first victory, the Seahawks began to play with a con fidence not seen in most of their previ ous losses. Sophomore forward Rachael Friesen-Norwood’s two free throws would put the Seahawks up for good at 46-45 with 2:21 to go. Less than a minute later, Kapper, who seemed to be in the middle of the Eagle zone all day, hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to give the Seahawks a 48-45 lead. The Eagles would not mount a come back as, out of a timeout with 36 sec onds to go, American guard Danielle Johnson took an ill-advised three-point shot that sailed out of bounds. UNCW would convert four out of seven free throws to seal the deal. “That was our game plan; we weren’t penetrating, and we worked on that in practice,” Kapper said of her ability carve her way into the Eagle defense. The Seahawks improved to 9-15 overall and 1-12 in the CAA, while the Eagles fell to 4-20 and a 2-11 CAA record. As the CAA tournament approaches, the Seahawks now enter as conference winners. “This got us prepared,” Kapper said. “It’s good to go into the tournament with a win.” time on the af ternoon fol lowing sopho more Matt Wright’s single to right field. The game pace settled down for GWU after the Colonials brought in se nior Ron Christie to re lieve right- handed starter Greg Conden (0-1). In four innings, Christie only gave up two runs and two hits to the Seahawks. Hairr and designated hitter Joe Dekker walked on base under Christie's watch in the bottom of the sixth. GWU Irought in right hander Ryan Beggs to face Ange. Ange unwelcomed Beggs to the game with a single to deep center field, which al lowed Hairr and Dekker to score. The sixth inning turned out to be in surance runs for the Seahawks, who allowed two runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings. For the first base hit in the game, Colonials junior Mike Bassett sent the baU overthe right field wall, placing GMU on the scoreboard. MuUis gave up one more run in his eight innings of play. In the sixth inning, sopho more Jake Wald scored after fellow sopho- James FUnV The SM/WMk UNCW redshirt junior Kevin Hairr prepares to rock the ball into the outfield for a single. more Tony Etokoupil singled to center field. The ninth inning started with sophomore Matt Carter taking over the mound for UNCW. Carter allowed two hits, one of which opened home plate for GMU junior Malt Krimmel to cross. Seahawks coach Mark Scalf credited MuUis as a major reason for the victory. “Jacc) threw exceptionally well. I thought Jacob pitched outstanding today. He was in the strike zone throughout the (first) four in nings. It’s easy to play defense behind ttiat.” The Seahawks picked up their fifth win, raising their record to 5-2. GWU dropped to 1-2 on the season. The victory marked MuUis’ first win for the season. ‘It feels real good for me personaUy,” the sophomore ftom Arden said. “The last out ing at Coastal (Carolina) I didn’t feel Uke I pitched that weU. I wanted to come out here and prove a point today, and my defense helped me.” UNCW returns to action this weekend, while hosting the Hugh Bros. BasebaU Chal lenge I^day through Sunday. Coastal, from page 1 7 started against Fischer. In two key situations, including the bottom of the ninth, the Seahawks reached base leading-off. Unfortunately, poor base running would extinguish the Seahawks’ late-inning drives. Twice the Seahawks were caught leaning too far off the bag at first, forced into a run-down, and tagged out. “We weren’t paying enough attention,” Scalf said. The game was then forced into extra innings and it didn’t take long for the Chanticleers to strike, load ing the bases with their first three batters. The Seahawks used three pitchers and faced all nine batters in the Coastal lineup before the dam age was done - five runs, four hits, one walk, and one error. However, the Seahawks felt their prob lems started long before that fateful tenth inning. They were concerned pri marily with their offensive execution. “We came into the game with a plan, we prepared for it, and we came out and basi cally dis obeyed that plan,” Wishon said. Scalf feels that the problem be hind his team’s inconsistent hitting is “plate discipline, which is not very good right now.” He doesn’t think his players understand the im portance of playing hard during ev ery at bat. “We’ve got to dial in everyday and some of our guys are having trouble doing that.” For now, the Seahawks have to get prepared for the tournament they are hosting this weekend. They be gin play on Friday at 7 p.m. against Appalachian State and remain con fident despite the tough loss against Coastal. “It’s our tournament and we’re looking to win three straight,” Wishon said. “We're gonna come out with a lot of enthusiasm,” Whitaker added. Sophomore Matt Wright makes the catcFr^^®ex^ tremely close play in Tuesday’s game. Schedules Women’s Basketball Thu. Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at East Carolina Sun. Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH (Last home game of season) Men’s Basketball Mon. Feb. 26 7:35 p.m. at Old Dominion Women’s Golf Mon & Tue. Feb. 26-27 All Dav at Carolinas Collegiate Classic Track & Field Sat. Feb, 24 TBA Last Chance Meet (Virginia Tech) Men’s & Women’s Tennis Fri. Feb. 23 at 2 p,m, at North Carolina A&T Sat. Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. at Elon Softball Fri & Sat. Feb. 23-24 TBA SEAHAWK CLASSIC (Campbell, George Mason, Hampton) Baseball Fri-Sun. Feb. 23-25 TBA HUGH BROS. TIRES BASEBALL CHALLENGE Tue. Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. at Duke Swimming & Diving Wed-Sun. Feb. 21-24 TBA at CAACtiampionship Meet (Fairfax, Va.] BOLD indicates tiome game www.theseahawk.drb
University of North Carolina Wilmington Student Newspaper
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Feb. 22, 2001, edition 1
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