A two-out, walk-off infield single in the bottom of the tenth from center fielder Casey Golden lifted UNC Wilmington over West Virginia, 2-1, in the opening game of the weekend series on Friday night. The win improved the Seahawks record to 10-10.

Right before Golden came to the plate, Mountaineers right fielder Michael Constantini had saved the game by throwing out pinch-runner Andy Austin at home plate for the second out of the inning. Golden, who was 0-for-4 on the night, stepped to the plate with runners on first and third, and the chance to win the game for the Seahawks.

“I popped three balls up to right field, so I changed my approach,” Golden said. “I told myself I was going to put that one on the ground and not pop it up. It was a solid pitch on the inside half and I tried hitting a hard groundball, and I guess it worked out perfect.”

Seahawks’ ace Mat Batts had another strong outing, throwing eight innings and allowing one run on four hits. Despite Batts’ performance, he did not factor into the decision.

The Mountaineers’ Harrison Musgrave, a preseason All-American and reigning Big 12 pitcher of the year, threw nine innings, allowing only one run that came in the first inning.

“Beginning of the week we knew they were a good team,” Batts said. “But we got on the bus after the Coastal game and saw they’d beaten Carolina, and that peaked everyone’s interest. Everyone knew that team was going to come out and give us everything they had.”

UNCW coach Mark Scalf was absent from the game as he was attending his daughter’s wedding. Associate coach Randy Hood filled in for Scalf.

“I thought it was one of the best games we’ve played all year,” Hood said. “It was a great ballgame between two teams that expect to be in the postseason.”

Reliever Kelly Secrest continued his success this season, pitching two shutout innings to close out the ballgame. Secrest picked up the win, improving his record to 5-1, while lowering his ERA to 0.60.

Seahawks’ third basemen Ryan LaGrange went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the first on a Luke Dunlap single. Dunlap, the designated hitter, ended the day 2-for-3.

“I think we’re coming together as a team,” Batts said. “The last two weekends we’ve had big wins to open the series.”

UNCW looks to win its first series as they face off against the Mountaineers on Saturday and Sunday at Brooks Field. On Saturday, Seahawks’ pitcher Jordan Ramsey will make his first start since injuring his finger in the Baylor game earlier this month. On Sunday, the Seahawks turn to sophomore Nick Monroe, who will make his fourth start of the season.