Seahawk baseball team drops fourth in a row

WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — UNCW was unable to overcome nine walks and home runs off the bats to Connor Owings and Dalton Ewing as the Chanticleers clipped the Seahawks, 6-4, on Wednesday at Brooks Field.

The Seahawks dropped to 9-6 with the loss and have dropped their last four straight. CCU, meanwhile. Improved to 11-7 with its fourth consecutive win.

CCU reliever Austin Kitchen (1-0) got the win while Andrew Beckwith retired all 10 Seahawks he faced to close out the game and notch his first save.

Austin Magestro (2-2) dropped his second straight decision out of the bullpen for UNCW.

Coastal was limited to three hits by UNCW, but did draw nine walks with Zach Remillard, Owings and Ewing each drawing two free passes.

Steven Linkous and Daniel Stack had two hits apiece while Linkous raised his stolen base total to 13 with two steals.

Home Runs: CCU Owings (4th inning off Crump, one on, none out); Ewing (4th inning off Crump, one on, two out)

Up next: The Seahawks continue their homestand this weekend when they host Iona in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 4 p.m.

How it happened: UNCW rallied to tie the game at four with a three run fifth inning, but Magestro walked the leadoff hitter in the sixth. Billy Cooke stole second and moved to third on a sac bunt by Seth Lancaster. One batter later, Matt Beaird plated Cooke with the go-ahead run on a sac fly.

Inside the box score: Coastal landed its leadoff hitter on base seven times, five on walks and twice on a UNCW fielding error … CCU was just 1-for-14 with RISP … UNCW allowed just two earned runs on the night … The Seahawk bullpen held CCU hitless over the final 5.1 innings … UNCW starter Justin Crump issued four walks, but just one earned run.

Notes: Nick Feight extended his career-long hitting streak to nine games with a double in the first inning … UNCW is 3-2 when scoring first … Steven Linkous needs two more stolen bases to move into UNCW’s career top-10.