Feb. 29, 2004
Final Stats
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Junior righthander Ronald Hill scattered eight hits, walking one and striking out one, in a complete-game effort as UNC Wilmington defeated Marist, 7-2, in the third game of the Hughes Bros. Baseball Challenge Sunday at Brooks Field.
UNCW improved to 1-6 and halted a seven-game losing streak dating back to last season's 9-8 loss to Louisiana State in the championship of the Baton Rouge Regional. Marist dipped to 2-4, but completed its Hughes Bros. Baseball Challenge appearance with a 2-1 mark.
Hill (1-2) needed just 94 pitches in going the distance for the Seahawks. Marist scratched out two runs in the fourth inning and failed to advance a runner past first base in the final five innings.
Marist righthander Scott Chambers (0-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing 12 hits and six runs, five earned, over 4.2 innings.
Senior shortstop Aaron Smith led the Seahawks with three hits and three runs scored, including his third home run of the season. Senior outfielder Brad Denson went 3-for-4 as the Seahawks pounded out 14 hits. UNCW had six doubles and turned four double plays in the field. Junior Keith Brachold collected a pair of hits for the Red Foxes.
UNCW jumped in front with a run in the first when Jon Davis doubled home Smith from third.
Marist scored twice in the fourth as Thomas Ciccarone scored on a double play and Bryan Towler doubled home Justin LePore from first base with two outs. LePore started the two out rally with a single to right the previous batter.
A Marist throwing error on a bunt allowed UNCW's Matt Poulk to score the game-tying run in the fourth. Poulk doubled earlier in the inning with one out.
UNCW broke the game open with a four-run fifth. Smith homered to lead off the frame, followed later in the inning by RBI singles from Brad Denson, Pat Murphy and Kenny Smith.
The Seahawks tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when Neil Eichhorn's bad hop double down the right field line plated Poulk.
The Seahawks continue their 11-game homestand on Tuesday, hosting UNC Greensboro at 3 p.m. Marist, meanwhile, visits Lamar, in Beaumont, Texas, for a three-game series beginning Mar. 5 at 7 p.m.
