By PJ Potter - Staff Writer Kennard McDowell’s four runs batted in led 25th ranked UNC-Wilmington to defeat Hofstra in the second game of the series, 8-6.
McDowell delivered a clutch 3-run home run in the 7th to make the score 5-3 Seahawks, their first lead of the game. He went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
The main theme of the game for UNCW today was hitting for extra bases. They totaled seven for the game (four doubles, two home runs, and a triple). Casey Golden hit for two doubles, one of them hitting off the top of the 30 foot fence in center field. Luke Dunlap and Zach Canada notched the other two doubles.
Steven Linkous tripled in the 7th, leading to him scoring on a sac fly to right field. Second baseman Robbie Thorburn had a big day, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored. Zach Shields had three hits and an RBI and was a pest all day on the bases. Pride pitchers threw over to first over a dozen times when he was there.
Hofstra lead for much of the game in credit to persistent pitching from Alec Eisenberg. He did not allow a run until the 5th and one more in the 6th. But with runners on second third, he was replaced by Adam Heidenfelder, who let up a three-run home run. Two of those runs were given to Eisenberg and finished with four earned runs in six innings pitched. He struck out two and gave up eight hits. Heidenfelder was credited with two earned in one inning of work. Kevin Weissheier also surrendered two runs on three hits.
Hofstra was able to come up with big hits. Leiderman dropped in a hit to center field to drive in a run. He has 19 RBI in the last seven games, in which he has hit safely in all of them. He went 2-for-4.
Brett Johnson belted a solo home run for the second consecutive game, making it five for him on the year, scoring two runs. Brian MacDonald contributed with three hits.
Brad Witkowski reached base on an infield single in first at-bat, continuing his hitting streak to 11 games.
The big story for Hofstra was Ryan Donovan. In the bottom of the 7th, he was called on to pinch hit for Mat Annunizata. On the first pitch Donovan saw, he hammered a 2-run home run to right field, his second of the season. In his next at-bat, he hit for extra bases again, this time a double.
Ryan Foster started for the Seahawks, winning his fourth game and remains undefeated on the hill. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits. He struck out six. Austin Magestro, Will Shepley, and Jared Gesell pitched the rest of the game, combining for one run on four hits and four strikeouts.