Seahawks win a thriller in CAA tourney against JMU Dukes

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (UNCW) —  Zack Canada‘s two-out infield single scored Gavin Stupienski with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as UNCW clipped James Madison, 5-4, to advance to Friday’s winner’s bracket game.

The top-seeded Seahawks improved to 38-15 with the win while the fourth-seeded Dukes dropped to 24-30. It was UNCW’s second straight extra-inning win over the Dukes in CAA tournament play, having also done so in 2014 with an 11-10 win at Brooks Field.

Canada finished with two hits, including a double in the fifth inning as UNCW rallied to tie the game with two runs in that inning. Kennard McDowell finished 1-for-3 and drove in those two runs in the fifth inning as UNCW erased a two-run deficit. Nick Feight posted his third four-hit game of the season, including a double and his 20th home run of the season.

Brett Johnson went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, his seventh of the season. Zach Tondi also homered with a man on in the ninth inning as he forced extra innings with his seventh round tripper of the season.

Closer Ben Garner (1-3) suffered the loss, allowing a run on two hits in 1.2 innings.

UNCW starter Ryan Foster didn’t figure in the decision in his attempt for a 13th win. The senior righthander struck out a career-high nine and did not walk a batter while holding JMU to two runs on five hits over 7.2 innings.

Up next: The Seahawks will play on Friday at noon against College of Charleston. Sophomore Alex Royalty (7-2) is slated to make the start for the Seahawks.

Home Runs: JMU – Johnson (off Foster in the 1st inning, one on, one out), Tondi (off Hyssong in the ninth inning, one on, two out); UNCW – Feight (off Marsilli in the eighth inning, leadoff)

How it happened: In the 10th inning, Gavin Stupienski drew a leadoff walk and advanced into scoring position on a single by Feight. With one out, Daniel Stack advanced Stupienski to third with a fly ball out to right and one batter later, Canada singled deep into the hole between shortstop and third to score Stupienski with the winning run.

Inside the box score: UNCW landed its leadoff hitter on base seven times while the Dukes did so three … With runners in scoring position, JMU went hitless (0-6) while UNCW was 4-for-16 … With two outs, both teams combined for three hits (JMU, 1-12; UNCW 2-11) … Foster allowed no two-out hits and allowed just two leadoff hitters to reach safely … UNCW’s first three hitters in the lineup combined to go 1-for-12 at the plate while the bottom three hitters were 4-for-10 with three runs scored and three driven in.

Notes: UNCW improved to 6-8 all-time against JMU in CAA tournament play … Casey Golden owns UNCW’s longest current hitting streak at seven games … Feight moved to within one double of tying the UNCW record for doubles in a season with 23 and home runs with 20 … Foster didn’t figure in the decision for the first time in his last eight starts … At one point after the first inning, Foster retired 18-of-21 batters … UNCW’s 14 strikeouts were one short of their season-high of 15 at William & Mary earlier this season … The Seahawks improved to 3-4 in one run games and 1-2 in extra innings … JMU stranded just three runners on base on the afternoon.