The Seahawk

Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Sports

In the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday, the Seahawks held a 7-2 lead. A fan, wearing a brightly colored Seahawk headpiece and a teal UNCW jersey, strolled in front of the fans behind home plate. He was holding a live turtle, while two more fans in UNCW jerseys walked in front of him carrying brooms, sweeping the path before him. Although the Terps would knock in two more runs in the bottom of the ninth, and even had the tying run-in-the-hole, the Seahawks would follow up on the fans' display and complete their weekend sweep of ACC opponent Maryland, taking the series 3-0. UNCW improved to 7-3 all-time against Maryland.

"It's going to be tough to beat us," sophomore outfielder Tyler Scott said. "A lot of people are saying we're just a young team, but we stepped it up."

The 2008-2009 Seahawks are a very young but talented team, with only one senior and 23 underclassmen on the 35-man roster.

After a pair of come-from-behind wins to start the series, coming back from two runs down on Friday and five runs down on Saturday, the Seahawks led wire-to-wire in the final game of the series on Sunday. Sparked by a solo home run from sophomore catcher Cody Stanley, the Seahawks would leave the first inning with a 2-0 lead and never looked back.

"It's always good to start on the right foot," sophomore catcher David Shambley, who spent time as designated hitter in the opening weekend, said. "We haven't started well the last few seasons."

After dropping four of their first five games in 2008, the Seahawks would go on to win 21 straight games on route to a CAA regular season title and setting the single season CAA record for wins with 25.

The Seahawks were led offensively by junior leftfielder Grayson Evans, who went 5-for-12 on the weekend with seven RBIs and two walks, knocking in two or more runs in each game from the number three spot in the lineup.

UNCW's pitching staff was also very strong in the opening weekend from top to bottom. Sophomore Daniel Cropper and junior Jesse Haney each allowed only two earned runs in their starts; and after a shaky start from junior Seth Frankoff in game two of the series, the bullpen came through to pitch five shutout innings.

The Seahawk defense also played well all weekend, finishing with an error free performance on Sunday, much to the delight of head coach Mark Scalf.

"I thought we played well defensively all weekend," Scalf said. "If you pitch well and play defense you'll give yourself a chance in every game."

The Seahawks host Michigan State for a three-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 27. It will be the first ever meeting between the two clubs.

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