15 straight home wins for UNCW baseball team

WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — UNCW exploded for three runs, all with two outs in the sixth inning, to erase a 4-3 deficit and Robbie Thorburn collected three hits as the Seahawks topped visiting Hofstra, 6-5, in the Colonial Athletic Association series opener on Friday at Brooks Field.

The Seahawks (29-10) improved to 24-2 at Brooks Field with the win and are now 9-2 in the CAA. The pride, meanwhile, dropped its fourth straight game to fall to 13-28 overall and 4-11 in the league.

Thorburn and Kennard McDowell combined for five hits on the night as Thorburn came up a home run short of hitting for the cycle. The junior raised his batting average to .369 with his sixth three-hit game of the season. McDowell added two hits, scored a run and knocked in the game-tying run with a single in the sixth inning.

Starter Ryan Foster (9-1) picked up the win with a strong outing. The righthander allowed four runs, just one earned, on seven hits and a walk. He tied his career-high with seven strikeouts.

UNCW reliever Taylor Hyssong picked up his first career save, striking out a career-high six, including the side-in-order all looking in the ninth, in three innings of work.

Hofstra reliever Alec Eisenberg (1-6) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits over three innings.

Brad Witkowski and Vito Friscia each had two hits for the Pride. Witkowski had a two-run double in Hofstra’s four-run fifth inning.

Up next: The series continues on Saturday with a 2 p.m. start.

Home Runs: none

How it happened: Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth, UNCW plated two runs to make it a one-run game and then scored three runs with two outs in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead. Steven Linkous plated the eventual game-winning run with a double to highlight the inning.

Inside the box score: UNCW just one earned run as the defense committed three errors … Hofstra (3) and UNCW (4) combined for seven two-out RBI’s … Foster and Hyssong combined to allow just three hits with runners on base … Both team landed their leadoff hitters on base in three innings … HU starter Teddy Cillis held UNCW hitless (0-7) with runners on base.

Notes: The Seahawks improved to 32-9 all-time against the Pride, including 16-4 at Brooks Field … With the home win, the Seahawks have won their last 15 straight, a school record, at Brooks Field … Stupienski and Thorburn both extended their hitting streaks to five games … Thorburn now has 16 multiple-hit games on the season … The Seahawks combined to strikeout a season-high 13 batters … Both teams combined for 25 strikeouts on the night … Foster has pitched six innings or more in nine starts.