Freshman Lauren Mattox belted a first inning home run to propel UNC Wilmington on its way to a 9-3 rout of UNC Greensboro.

After being trounced, 8-0, in a Feb. 8 game against UNCG, the Seahawks sought revenge.

“We had a lot to prove after [the Feb. 8] game,” said Raena Jones, who hit 1-for-3 Sunday and scored two runs. “We’re a different team now.”

Mattox’s home run, her third of the season, put momentum on the side of the Seahawks.

“(The home run) was a really big pick-me-up,” Jones said.

Mattox, who hit a combined 0-for-6 in Saturday’s doubleheader, hit 1-for-2 and scored two runs in addition to her three RBIs Sunday.

“I left a lot of people (stranded) yesterday,” Mattox said. “I didn’t want to leave them on today.”

UNCW extended its lead to four in the third inning when Maggie Johnson hit a fly to center field, driving Jones in for the run.

The Spartans bounced back when freshman Thea Wirkus-Platz shot the ball over the center field fence for a single-run homer.

However, the Seahawks used the bottom of the fourth inning to pull away, scoring five more runs to build an eight-point cushion. After Erin Toothman struck out and Judy Spero grounded out to first base in the first two at-bats, Tiffany Lindemann found a hole at third for a single to spark the run.

Both Johnson and Susanna Rabon drove in two RBIs for the game.

The Spartans were able to score just two more runs in the rest of the game, both solo home runs.

“Anybody plays with more confidence when they have a lead,” UNCW head coach Maggie St. Ledger said.

“[But] we played solid defense all weekend,” St. Ledger emphasized. “We committed two errors in three games.”

Seahawk pitcher Mandi Westbury picked up her 12th win of the season, allowing UNCG nine hits.

UNCW improves to 5-7 in the Southern Conference to advance to fifth place in conference standings. The Seahawks will face fourth place Georgia Southern Friday and Saturday.

Coming off the two wins, the Seahawks look to continue to advance in the SoCon.

“This was a critical series for us,” St. Ledger said, “just because of where we are in the standings.