UNCW Seahawks edge the Tribe in baseball

WILLIAMSBURG, VA (UNCW) —  Casey Golden leadoff with a home run and Steven Linkous plated the eventual game-winning run later in the sixth inning as UNCW edged William & Mary, 2-1, in a Colonial Athletic Association series opener on Friday at Plumeri Park.

The Seahawks improved to 3-2 in the conference and 17-9 overall with their second straight road win. The Tribe, meanwhile, dropped to 15-14 and 4-2 with their second straight loss.

UNCW starter Ryan Foster (5-2) allowed a run in the first and then sailed through the seventh, allowing five hits, all singles, while walking four and striking out six. Jared Gesell notched his third save of the season.

Linkous was the only player to have multiple hits in the pitcher’s duel.

Nick Brown (2-4) took the loss for the Tribe. Brown went six innings, allowed two runs on five hits while walking six and striking out 11.

Up next: The Seahawks and Tribe play the middle game of the series on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Home Runs: UNCW – Golden (off Brown in the sixth inning, leadoff)

How it happened: William & Mary held a 1-0 lead until the sixth inning when UNCW struck for two runs. Golden belted a leadoff homer, his third of the season, to tie the game. Later in the inning, Linkous lined a two-out single to left to plate Zack Canada from second base for the go-ahead run.

Notes: UNCW struck out a season-high 15 times while the Seahawk pitching staff combined to match its season-high with 12 strikeouts … Both teams combined to leave 22 runners on base … Both staffs combined to walk 14 batters … Linkous doubled in the second inning to extend his career-long hitter streak to eight games … Golden’s homer extended his hitting streak to a season-high five games … Austin Magestro and Jared Gesell both struck out the side … UNCW won its first one-run game of the season and improved to 17-0 when leading after six innings.