UNCW Diamond Hawks take opening game in extra innings

WILMINGTON, N.C. (UNCWSports.com) – Freshman Noah Liles‘ fielder’s choice scored senior Zack Canada with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as UNCW edged Eastern Kentucky, 5-4, in college baseball action on Friday at Brooks Field.

For the Seahawks, it was their 10th consecutive season-opening victory and the third in their final at bat of the game in that string.

Junior reliever Clark Cota earned the win for UNCW while reliever Casey Collins was saddled with the loss for the Colonels, who tied the game at 4-all in the top of the eighth.

Newcomers Kep Brown, a red-shirt sophomore, and freshman Greg Jones each had two hits. Jones added a pair of stolen bases.

Alex Holderbach had two hits for EKU as did Brendan Overton. Tyler Romanik belted the two-run game-tying homer in the eighth.

How it happened: Canada drew a four-pitch walk from Collins to open the Seahawk ninth and moved to second on a wild pitch by reliever Bryan Quillens. An error moved Canada around to third and put runners on the corners for Liles, who chopped a ground ball to second and EKU was unable to turn the double play as Canada scored.

Notes: UNCW’s Ryan Jeffers extended his hitting streak to eight games with a second inning single … He also pushed his on base streak to 24 games … Seahawk left-handed reliever Justin Walke made his debut and struck out four in two innings of hitless baseball … UNCW starter Alex Royalty struck out six over five innings, allowing two runs … Five players made their UNCW debuts (Liles, Jones, Brown, Walke and Sheaffer).