JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Kevin Lehane’s bases-loaded pinch hit single in the bottom of the ninth lifted Jacksonville to a 4-3 win over UNC Wilmington in college baseball action on Sunday at Sessions Stadium.
The Dolphins, the defending Atlantic Sun Conference champions, averted the sweep with the win and improved to 1-2. The Seahawks, meanwhile, dipped to 2-1.
Freshman righthander Kentrail (1-0) Pierce picked up the win in relief, retiring both batters he faced in the ninth.
UNCW junior Daniel Cropper didn’t figure in the decision despite allowing just one run on five hits and no walks in seven innings. Cropper fanned seven.
JU starter Chris Kaminski also gave a solid effort, holding UNCW to two runs, both unearned, on four hits a walk and four strikeouts.
In the ninth for JU, Alex Martinez opened the inning reaching safely on a dropped throw and pinch runner Jonathan Murphy moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Connelly. An intentional walk put runners at first and second for pinch hitter Derek Abis, who drew a walk from losing pitcher Bryan Booth to load the bases for Lehane, who lined the first pitch from UNCW sophomore reliever Steven Davis through the leftside.
Dan Gulbransen, Chuck Opachich and Martinez each had two hits for JU, who out hit UNCW, 9-7, for the first time in the series.
UNCW plated a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first for the early 2-0 lead. Senior Grayson Evans knocked in the first run on an error and senior Robbie Monday brought in the second on a ground ball back to the mound.
JU got to Cropper in the bottom of the second when Adam Brett Walker doubled to lead off and scored two batters later on Martinez’s single to right to make it 2-1.
Freshman Hunter Ridge pushed UNCW’s lead to 3-1 with a pinch hit RBI single in the top of the eighth with two out.
The Dolphins answered, though, with two runs, one earned, in the bottom of the eighth to draw even at 3-all. Jamaal Hawkins knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly and Gulbranson tied the game, scoring on a passed ball.
The Seahawks return to Brooks Field on Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. when they take on Lehigh on the first day of the Hughes Bros. Challenge.
-All Information Courtesy UNCW, except headline and correction of Jacksonville’s record.