Led by freshman reliever Austin Magestro’s four strikeouts, UNCW’s bullpen combined for four innings of two-hit, shutout baseball as the Seahawks edged nationally ranked Ball State 4-2 on Saturday at Brooks Field.
The Seahawks improved to 2-0 with the win, while the Cardinals dropped to 0-2. Sunday’s schedule of the Buffalo Wild Wings Battle at the Beach has been canceled and will not be made up.
With the Seahawks holding a 4-2 lead with bases loaded and none out in the top of the sixth, Magestro made his collegiate debut a memorable one by striking out the side and preserving UNCW’s two-run edge.
Steven Linkous led the Seahawks at the plate with two of UNCW’s six hits and the junior outfielder made a game saving play crashing into the wall with the tying run on base when Brandon Estep launched a 3-2 pitch deep to left field.
UNCW starter Ryan Foster (1-0) earned the win, working five innings and allowing two runs.
The Seahawks struck for two runs in the third and two more in the fourth for a 4-0 lead. Zach Shields opened the scoring with an RBI on a fielders’ choice and Casey Golden plated Shields one batter later with a RBI single.
UNCW visits N.C. State on Feb. 17 for a 3 p.m. start.
Seahawks close weekend tournament with Saturday split
Led by freshman pitcher Sarah Davis, the UNCW softball team closed out play at the Landfall Park Hampton Inn & Suites Invitational by splitting a pair of games against UMBC and Georgetown at Boseman Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who improved to 2-1 on the season, defeated the Retrievers by a 4-2 margin in their first game of the afternoon before dropping an 11-3 decision against the Hoyas in a six-inning game to complete the tournament.
Davis, who earned the first win of her college career in relief on Friday, collected her first victory as a starter in the Seahawks’ 4-2 triumph against UMBC. She scattered seven hits and allowed two earned runs while recording eight strikeouts with three walks.
In addition, Davis had three hits in the victory over the Retrievers with a run batted in, while scoring once. She also drove in a run during the Seahawks’ loss against Georgetown.
In the other two games played earlier on Saturday, Saint Joseph’s posted an 8-4 victory over UMBC before Georgetown edged Saint Joseph’s by a 5-1 count.
The Seahawks, who will play 14 of the first 18 games at home, will travel to Charleston Southern next weekend for a four-game tournament against the host Buccaneers, Tennessee Tech and North Carolina A&T.
