Stormy weather on Friday caused a shake up to the Buffalo Wild Wings Battle at the Beach tournament, forcing UNC Wilmington’s baseball team to play a doubleheader on Saturday. The Seahawks lost the opening game 14-6 against Liberty University, but rebounded in the nightcap, improving to 2-3 on the season following a 6-3 win against Ohio University.

Liberty roughed up UNCW starter Mat Batts, who allowed nine hits and six earned runs over six innings pitched. Flames’ starter Trey Lambert picked up his first win of the season, throwing eight innings and allowing only two earned runs.

Seahawks’ second baseman Luis Renvil looked great at the plate during the first game, going 3-4 with a run and an RBI. Designated hitter Nick Monroe picked up his first career home run on a solo shot off of Lambert.

The Seahawks’ lineup changed drastically between the first and second game. Coach Mark Scalf went with four true freshman and one redshirt freshman.

“I haven’t been pleased with the way we’ve performed in the first four games,” Scalf said. “These young guys have worked just as hard as the other guys through the fall and the spring and ability wise they’re right there with some of the guys we’ve given the opportunities to the first four games.”

Freshman outfielder Casey Golden looked particularly impressive. Golden went 3-4 with a triple, three RBIs, and two stolen bases against Ohio. Earlier in the day, he picked up his first career hit—a pinch-hit single—against Liberty in the opening game of their doubleheader.

“[Scalf] was telling us to be aggressive, but still take some pitches,” Golden said. “I was hitting in the leadoff spot for the second game, so I just tried doing my job, and luckily it worked out for the best.”

On the mound, junior Jordan Ramsey turned in a strong performance, throwing six innings and allowing two earned runs on only four hits. Ramsey, who allowed 10 runs and 10 hits while being limited to only 4.2 innings last week against Kentucky, also struck out seven Bobcats’ batters. 

“I thought Ramsey was a little bit out of sync with his delivery, but he was able to make adjustments,” Scalf said. “Ramsey certainly gave us an opportunity to win a ball game.”

Closer Kelly Secrest threw 2.1 perfect innings in relief to pick up the win. Secrest took over for Ricky Holden and inherited a bases-loaded, two-out situation. Secrest pitched out of the jam, however, getting Bobcats’ pinch-hitter Tyler Wells to groundout to second to end the inning.

“I’m just trying to keep us in the game, fill up the zone, and get a ground ball to get us out of the inning,” Secrest said. “[The win over Ohio] gives us a lot of momentum coming into the next two games tomorrow—we’re ready to go.”

The Seahawks will send pitchers Evan Phillips (vs. Liberty) and Nick Monroe (vs. Ohio) to the mound on Sunday to close out the Battle at the Beach.

Looking forward, UNCW has a big upcoming week. The Seahawks travel to Elon on Tuesday for their first midweek game of the season; it’ll be the first meeting between the two teams since the Phoenix ended UNCW’s season last year.

After Elon, UNCW heads west to the University of San Diego tournament where they will face San Diego, Baylor and California. The Seahawks will also take on Pepperdine in a midweek matchup before coming back east after spring break.