After splitting a doubleheader with the Missouri Tigers on Friday, the UNC Wilmington baseball team dropped the rubber match on Saturday in a 6-3 final. All was seemingly even between the two teams for the majority of the game; however, one inning of struggle was all Missouri needed to claim victory.

The Tigers jumped out to an early two run lead in the top of the first inning following a walk, an RBI single and an RBI fielder’s choice. UNCW would answer with one run of its own in the bottom of the second, coming on an RBI single by the designated hitter John Davis, which scored right fielder Matt Sutton, who led off with a double. Both Davis and Sutton went two for four at the plate on Saturday.

The Tigers were able to hold the Seahawks at bay until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Matt Wright singled, driving in Davis to knot the score at two a piece.

The top of the fifth inning watched the dam break against the Seahawks’ starting pitcher Brad Overton. Missouri touched up the UNCW hurler for two runs in the fifth before he was replaced by Will Hunt. Two more runs would be charged to Overton in the inning before UNCW could stop the Tiger’s momentum. Overton’s official line for the game was six runs, all earned, on six hits, two bases-on-balls, and three strikeouts in four and one-third innings of work.

UNCW head coach Mark Scalf believed that mental focus could have been missing from Overton’s performance.

“I don’t think he came out as mentally prepared as he should have,” Scalf said.

In the preseason, Scalf focused on the depth of his pitching staff, but commented on preparedness.

“From a pitching standpoint, we can go nine or 10 deep right now and not lose an incredible amount on the mound,” Scalf said. “It’s going to be a matter of matching up the right players the right days, and hopefully they come to play everyday so we’re getting what we expect out of them.”

Following their four-run explosion in the fifth, the Tigers’ pitching staff set their cruise control in rout to victory.

Missouri pitchers struck out nine batters as opposed to the five strikeouts credited to UNCW. Scalf was a bit disappointed in the offensive effort of the UNCW squad.

Missouri’s Derek Roper was the winning pitcher while Travis Wendte earned the save for the Tigers, as Overton was the loser. The Tigers also out hit the Seahawks by an 11-9 count, while reaching the plate two less times than UNCW.

The Seahawks fall to a record of 1-2 on the season, with the loss to Missouri, and began a home-stand with Costal Carolina on Tuesday, Duke on Wednesday and will play a three game set against Delaware State tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.