UNC Wilmington baseball was on the wrong end of a game of scoring spurts in its 10-5 loss to no. 19 Coastal Carolina on Tuesday afternoon at Brooks Field.

After splitting the series with the Chanticleers last season, the Seahawks (3-2) fell behind early in the first of three games between the teal rivals this year and never recovered.

Walke-a-thon

Senior Justin Walke had a day to forget in his first start as a Seahawk. Walke did not get out of the first inning in his 39-pitch appearance that yielded two walks, two hits and five runs (three earned).

Both clubs knew they’d have to piece together the pitching staff on a short weekday game turnaround but fell victim to a consistent-yet-small strike zone. When it was all said and done each team had walked eight batters.

Each team used six pitchers with its normal starting pitchers either unavailable or waiting for the weekend. Finding a suitable fourth starter to handle weekday duties will be interesting to follow in the coming weeks especially as Zarion Sharpe nears the end of his rehab.

Angeli in the Infield

The Seahawks pulled within one run of the Chanticleers midway through the game after trailing as many as six runs. Despite having the bases loaded multiple times, UNCW never could complete its fourth comeback in as many games.

“We were really one more quality at-bat away from taking the lead two times in the game,” said coach Mark Scalf. “We came up short. We didn’t get that next knock.”

UNCW was 1-for-8 with RISP and neither team recorded a hit with the bases loaded. Coastal had more success extending innings which led to six two-out RBI.

For his part, third baseman/catcher Doug Angeli turned in four hits including his first career home run. He leads the Seahawks with a .538 batting average five games into the year.

Up next

UNCW has now played five games in five days so the two days off will allow a used-bullpen to reset and rest for the upcoming Hughes Bros. Challenge held annually at Brooks Field.

The Seahawks will welcome Indiana State, Iona and Marshall to the Port City for this year’s incarnation of the event. Indiana State is coming off a three-game sweep last weekend against Jacksonville.