Baseball (9-3, 4-1 in Week 3)  

UNC Wilmington baseball followed up a 3-1 week that featured a win over No. 6 North Carolina with a 4-1 week to improve to 9-3 on the year.  

The main storyline was the bats finally came alive for UNCW. The Seahawks scored 40 total runs in five games, compared to 23 total runs in their seven games prior. UNCW bats kept pace with rival Coastal Carolina on Wednesday, but their gloves ultimately cost them the game. Their five errors allowed the five unearned runs that separated the two squads in a 10-5 loss.  

The Seahawks continued their hot hitting in their four-game sweep of Princeton by belting seven homers throughout the weekend. The most important homer came in the last at-bat of the series, as senior outfielder Levi Gesell sent the second pitch he saw over the left field fence for the walk-off win. 

Pitcher of the Week: Alex Royalty

The Seahawks’ ace dominated Princeton on Friday to kick off the series sweep. Royalty threw six strong innings, giving up no runs and allowing just two hits while striking out nine Tigers. Royalty threw 3 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball to start his outing, which ran the season’s longest stretch of consecutive no-hit baseball to 8 2/3 innings, dating back to a victory over Appalachian State on Feb. 23. 

Player of the Week: Zack Canada 

Not only was Canada UNCW’s player of the week, but he was also named to Collegiate Baseball’s list of National Players-of-the-Week on Monday. Canada went 9-for-19 (.474) at the plate to raise his team-leading batting average to .344. The senior totaled 10 RBI, scored five runs, and hit three home runs this week. 

Freshman of the Week: Landen Roupp, pitcher 

Head coach Mark Scalf confidently handed the ball to Roupp to make his collegiate debut on Sunday, and Roupp did not disappoint. The freshman went five strong innings and tallied five strikeouts while allowing no runs on only two hits.  

What’s to come: 

The Seahawks start their four-game road trip at NC State on Tuesday at 3 p.m. before heading west to Arizona State for a three-game set from Friday to Sunday.  

Around the CAA: 

College of Charleston continues to pace the conference at 10-2 after a three-game sweep of Georgia. Northeastern and James Madison sit just behind UNCW in the win column with seven wins apiece. 

UNCW Softball 

Record: (5-10, 1-5 in Week 3) 

UNCW softball had a long week with emotional ups and downs throughout. The team, accompanied by school and athletic officials, cut the ribbon on their new stadium in their first true home game against NC State on Wednesday. The Seahawks battled back late but ultimately couldn’t string the hits together in their 4-2 defeat.  

After the lone home game, the Seahawks hit the road once again for a tournament at No. 12 Auburn. UNCW started the tournament off with a 3-2 win over Western Illinois but couldn’t gather another win in the event. Unlike the baseball team, the softball Seahawks did not have the same luck in turning around their hitting woes.  

The Seahawks managed only seven runs in their six games and were shutout in back-to-back games vs. Auburn and in-state foe Western Carolina. 

Pitcher of the Week: Sarah Davis 

The senior starter threw a total of 18 1/3 innings over the course of three starts and one relief appearance. In her first two starts, Davis went the distance both times and allowed only three runs. She totaled eight strikeouts over those two starts and picked up the lone win of the week in a 3-2 decision over Western Illinois. 

Player of the Week: Lacey Fox 

In a down week offensively for UNCW, Fox was the heartbeat at the plate for the Seahawks. The junior outfielder went 7-for-16 (.438) at the plate while adding three RBI and scoring one run.  

Fox raised her team-leading batting average to .381 on the year, while also increasing her team-leading RBI total to eight. She trails only Kelsey Bryan in total hits. Fox also came out of the bullpen in both games against Auburn, totaling 3 2/3 innings pitched and two strikeouts. 

Freshman of the Week: Emily Langkamp 

Of the five freshmen on the roster, Langkamp continues to be the most consistent contributor of them all. Langkamp continued to start at first base for the Seahawks, where she tallied three hits and a walk on the week. Though her average dipped in the six-game stretch, she still sits third on the team at .268. 

What’s to come: 

The Seahawks will start their seven-game week with a doubleheader on Tuesday at Gardner-Webb before coming back home for the 2018 Seahawk Softball Showcase. The Seahawks will play North Carolina A&T and Sacred Heart on Friday, Youngstown State and Sacred Heart on Saturday, and Youngstown State again on Sunday. 

Around the CAA: 

James Madison continued to stay hot, pushing its win streak to 11 games and record to 14-2. Towson went 2-0 on the week and sits just behind JMU at 12-3.