Seahawks softball split twinbill with JMU

WILMINGTON, North Carolina (UNCWSports.com) – Freshman Emily Langkamphad two hits, including the first home run of her college career, and drove in two runs as UNCW split a pair of Colonial Athletic Association contests against James Madison at Boseman Field on Friday afternoon.

The Seahawks, who upped their record to 10-18 overall and 1-4 in the CAA, won the opener by a 6-4 margin before James Madison (23-8, 4-1) countered with a 9-1 victory in five innings in the nightcap.

Langkamp had both of her hits in the opener as she led the Seahawks to the victory. She singled in the second inning before giving UNCW the win with a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Freshman Carson Shaner led the Seahawks’ 12-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with a double and a run batted in. Sophomore Booth Braswell and senior Kelsey Bryan each added two hits for the Seahawks, who were playing at home for the first time since Mar. 11.

Junior Laurel Koontz earned the win in the opener after allowing two runs on three hits over the final 3.0 innings after replacing junior Haley Lenderman, who gave up one earned run on five hits in the first 4.0 frames.

James Madison was led by sophomore Odicci Alexander, who went 4-for-8 with a home run, four runs batted in and two runs scored. She also claimed the decision in the circle in both games, allowing three runs on six hits over 7.2 innings with six strikeouts.

How It Happened – Game 1: After James Madison tied the game at 4-all with a two-out double by sophomore Kate Gordon, Langkamp blasted a two-run home run over the left field fence to give UNCW a 6-4 victory.

How It Happened – Game 2: James Madison tallied at least one run in four of its five trips to the plate to build a 9-0 lead, including a two-run home run by Gordon in the third inning and a grand slam by Alexander in the fifth inning. UNCW ended the shutout bid in the bottom of the fifth inning when sophomore Dominique Travers hit a solo home run to left field.

Notes: UNCW ended an 18-game losing streak in the series with the Dukes, securing its first victory since a 9-7 triumph at Boseman Field on Mar. 27, 2011 … Shaner has now reached base safely in five consecutive games … Bryan and junior Hannah Adamczyk extended their hitting streaks to three games … Langkamp became the seventh different UNCW player to hit a home run this season … The Seahawks won for the second time this season when allowing more than two runs with the victory in the opener.

Up Next: UNCW and James Madison finish the three-game series on Saturday, Mar. 31, with a single game starting at noon.