Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, DE – Despite three delays totaling nearly two hours in length, No. 29 UNC Wilmington could not be slowed down as the Seahawks used an eight-run sixth to cruise past the University of Delaware baseball team, 17-7, during a Colonial Athletic Association contest at a rain-soaked Bob Hannah Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Jason Appel led the Seahawk offense, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored. Daniel Hargrave also collected three hits, including a home run for UNCW (29-8-1, 18-2-1 CAA).

For Delaware (13-24, 6-12), Ryan Cuneo (at right) chipped in with three hits to extend his career-long hitting streak to 10 games, while Scott Shockley, Adam Tsakonas, and Kyle Davis each added two apiece.

After Delaware cut its deficit to three at 8-5 entering the top of the sixth, the Hens looked to have some momentum going and clear skies in the forecast. Although the weather remained clear, the momentum quickly shifted as UNC Wilmington put eight on the board to grab a commanding 11-run lead.

During the rally, UNCW loaded the bases with no outs before Shane French notched an RBI fielder’s choice to start the scoring. After an intentional walk reloaded the bases, Cody Stanley ripped a two-run pinch-hit double down the right field line. A Delaware error brought in the fourth run of the inning, while a single by Bobby Leeper and a two-run home run off the bat of Hargrave capped the scoring and put UNCW up, 16-5.

Although a two-run double by Cuneo brought the Hens within double-figures in the bottom of the sixth, they could not come any closer as the Seahawk bullpen shut out Delaware during the last three innings of play. The UNCW offense then tacked on one last run in the ninth when French clocked a home run to left center.

Cameron Roth picked up the win after allowing two runs on three hits in his three innings of work. Michael Londino, who made his first start for Delaware, suffered the loss after allowing seven runs, including five earned, in one inning on the mound.

Although the Blue Hen pitching staff had trouble with the Seahawk lineup all weekend, surrendering a total of 43 runs during the three-game series, reliever David Slovak had two strong outings. After picking up his third save of the season on Friday, the right-hander pitched two scoreless innings on Sunday, striking out four while allowing only a single hit.

Despite the final score, the game was closely-contest during the early part of the contest. UNCW got on the board first, using another two-out rally to take an early lead. After scoring four of their first five runs yesterday with two outs, the Seahawks used another clutch rally to score twice in the first after Londino struck out the first two batters. Appel started off with a double to right center and came home when Mark Carver followed with a single to center. After a passed ball and a walk, Carver scored on a hit by French.

The Blue Hens scratched together an answer in the bottom of the first when Davis doubled, Alex Buchholz was hit by a pitch, and Shockley roped an RBI hit to right. Cuneo followed with his own run-scoring single before a fielder’s choice by Ryan Reed put Delaware on top, 3-2, when Shockley came around on the play.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Hargrave put UNCW back in charge with a two-run double to left center in the second. The Seahawks eventually scored three more in the inning with the benefit of two Blue Hen errors to pull ahead, 7-3.

Delaware cut the lead back down to three in the bottom of the inning when Chris Nehl doubled, advanced to third on a ground out by Pat Dameron, and came home when the Seahawks could not handle a sharply-hit ball by Davis.

In between two delays, one for lightning and one for rain, the teams traded one-run innings in the fourth and fifth. UNCW plated one in the fourth as Justin Barefoot notched a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. The Hens responded in the fifth when Shockley laced his third home run of the season on a blast to centerfield.

After that point, the Seahawks charged ahead with their eight-run sixth to put the game out of reach.

Delaware will return to action on Tuesday when the team travels to Dover, DE to take on intrastate rival Delaware State at 3 p.m.

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