After squeaking out some close games at home, the UNC-Wilmington men’s baseball team got their second shutout of the season, defeating the Campbell Fighting Camels 3-0.

The Seahawks (16-16), broke a two game losing streak and had an outstanding performance from sophomore pitcher Ryan Foster. Foster had a no-hitter through 7 innings before giving up a hit to Campbell’s (22-13) Elijah Trail. The win moves Foster to 1-1 on the year.

“Tonight’s game was an extremely well-pitched game,” said Seahawks head coach Mark Scalf. “Very well played defensively.”

Foster admitted after the game he knew he had the potential no-hitter in the works. “I knew after the second inning. About the third or fourth inning, I realized I’ve got it going today.”

As the game wore on, his teammates gave him his space in the bullpen, but Foster wasn’t phased.  “I’m not very superstitious…it means nothing to me. I’m just out there competing for my team.” When asked about whether he would like to start on a more consistent basis, he seemed to be indifferent.

“I feel I can help this team either way. This is what I try to do every time out—compete for my team, whether it’s out of the bullpen or in a starting role.”

“We’ve got about three or four guys who are very capable of doing that,” said Scalf. Hopefully, they’ll make some progress so in the back half (of the season) we’ll get some more quality starts.”

Seahawks third baseman Ryan LaGrange complimented his pitcher’s play and discussed how it contributed to the defense.

“It keeps the defense into it,” LaGrange said. “When guys are throwing strikes, it’s easier to play behind them because you’re on your toes.” After the 7^th inning hit that broke the no-hitter, the Seahawks only allowed one more hit in the eighth and committed zero errors.

When the Seahawks appeared to have wrapped things up after the eighth inning, Scalf pulled him for Kelly Secrest.

“He wanted to finish,” Scalf said. “But he also knew he was reaching his pitch count. He did his job for us tonight.”

The Seahawks got on the board in the bottom of the first, when a single by Corey Dick drove straight over the head of Campbell pitcher Andrew Witczak. LaGrange advanced to second and Terence Connelly scored on the play.

Corey Dick, the team’s leading hitter, finished the game 3-4 with an RBI after going 1-13 in his previous 3 games. “I got the pitches I wanted tonight,” he said. They threw a lot of off speed to us tonight, and I was able to see it well.”

Immediately after Dick’s single, LaGrange scored on a single from Dunlap. Robbie Thorburn finished out the scoring in the bottom of the fourth.

Witczack, who was pulled in the first, took the loss for Campbell. He falls to 2-3 on the season.

After some tough losses this previous weekend and a narrow, come-from-behind win against Coastal Carolina earlier in the week, Foster stressed the importance of getting up 2-0 in the first inning. “Anytime that your offense can put together some good at-bats early on, it definitely helps you. You want to go right after hitters.”

“Anytime you can take a lead in the first is always nice,” Scalf said. “We’ve gotten in trouble defensively when we haven’t been in the zone, but when we’re throwing strikes we’ll be very solid.”

The Seahawks will return to Brooks Field Friday against conference opponent Hofstra.