UNCW knocks off nationally ranked NC State in baseball

WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — Home runs by Nick Feight and Brian Mims back timely pitching by the Seahawks as UNCW beat nationally-ranked NC State, 6-4, in non-conference baseball action at Brooks Field on Tuesday.

The win, which snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Wolfpack extended UNCW’s winning streak to four game and pushed its record to 13-6. NCSU, meanwhile, dropped to 16-7 on the season.

Mims finished 2-for-4 at the plate, scored twice and drove in three runs while Feight belted his team-leading seventh home run of the season with a man on in the third inning. Robbie Thorburn went 1-for-2 with two walks and stole two bases to give him 11 on the season. Steven Linkous scored twice, tripled and stole his 16th base of the year.

Austin Magestro (3-2) picked up the win with two strong innings of relief. He needed just five pitches to strand runners on first and second and none out in the fifth. In the sixth, NCSU put runners on first and second again, but Magestro struck out the side to end the threat.

Jared Gesell picked up his second save of the season pitching the ninth inning.

Andrew Knizner drove in three runs on a double and a two-run homer while Stephen Pitarra and Preston Palmiero added two hits apiece.

Starter Christian Demby (0-1) took the loss in his first collegiate start. He allowed four runs on four hits over three innings.

Up next: The Seahawks open Colonial Athletic Association action this weekend when Elon visits Brooks Field for a 6 p.m. start on Friday.

Home Runs: NCSU – Knizner (seventh inning off Easter, one on, two outs); UNCW – Feight (third inning off Demby, one on, two out), Mims (fifth inning off Wilder, one on, none out)

How it happened: UNCW built a 6-1 lead though the fifth inning. Feight’s two-run home run in the third highlighted a three-run frame, which also included a RBI single by Mims. In the fifth, Mims launched a two-run homer to center to make it 6-1.

Inside the box score: Both teams plated three runs with two outs … UNCW went 3-for-9 with RISP while NC State struggled at 2-for-15 … The Wolfpack did land its leadoff hitter on base in six innings … UNCW pitchers limited NCSU to two hits with two outs … NCSU failed in three opportunities to score a runner from third with less than two outs.

Notes: Tonight’s attendance was a season-high 2,007 … Both staffs combined for 13 walks … UNCW pitchers struck out 11 batters … Austin Magestro has picked up two wins in his last five relief appearances … Nick Feight extended his hitting streak to a career-long 13 games and he’s driven in a run in each of his last seven … Justin Crump made his third start of the season and held NCSU to a run on two hits and four walks over a season-high four innings.