UNCW defeats Rhode Island; just one win away from first Super Regional for UNCW

COLUMBIA, SC (AP) — Kennard McDowell and Zack Canada each had three-run homers as UNC Wilmington moved to the Columbia Regional final with an 11-7 victory over Rhode Island in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night.

The Seahawks (41-17) will face the South Carolina-Rhode Island winner Sunday night to advance to the super regional round next week. Should UNC Wilmington lose, the teams would play Monday night to decide the regional.

If the Seahawks bring the offense they’ve shown the past two games, they’ll be hard to stop. The finished with 16 hits, four of them homers against Rhode Island (31-26).

Every UNCW starter had a hit for the second straight game.

Daniel Stack’s RBI single in the fifth put the Seahawks up 7-6 before Canada connected for a home run to the concourse in left center. Robbie Thorburn and Gavin Stupienski each had solo homers for UNC Wilmington.

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