UNCW rallied for three runs as part of a two-out rally in the sixth for a 6-5 come-from-behind victory against Hofstra in the Colonial Athletic Association series opener at Brooks Field on Friday.
Robbie Thorburn collected three hits as the Seahawks (29-10) improved to 24-2 at their home ball park, improving to 9-2 in the CAA. The Pride, meanwhile, dropped its fourth straight game to fall to 13-28 overall and 4-11 in the league.
Thorburn and Kennard McDowell combined for five hits on the night as Thorburn came up a home run short of hitting for the cycle. The junior raised his batting average to .369 with his sixth three-hit game of the season. McDowell added two hits, scored one run and knocked in the game-tying run with a single in the sixth inning.
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth, UNCW plated two runs to make it a one-run game and then scored three runs with two outs in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead. Steven Linkous plated the eventual game-winning run with a double to highlight the frame.
Starter Ryan Foster moved to 9-1 on the hill this spring with another strong outing atop the UNCW starting rotation. The right-hander allowed four runs, just one earned, on seven hits and one walk. He tied his career-high with seven strikeouts. Foster has pitched six innings or more in nine starts.
UNCW reliever Taylor Hyssong picked up his first career save, striking out a career-high six, including the side-in-order all looking in the ninth, in three innings of work. Seahawks pitchers also combined to strikeout a season-high 13 batters.
Foster and Hyssong combined to allow just three hits with runners on base. Stupienski and Thorburn both extended their hitting streaks to five games, while Thorburn now has 16 multiple-hit games on the season.
The series continues on Saturday with a 2 p.m. start.
