2016 Columbia Regional: UNC-Wilmington Crushes Duke In Game 1

The UNC-Wilmington Seahawks whipped the Duke Blue Devils 11-1 in the opening game of the Columbia Regional Friday afternoon.

Neither team did much in the first, but the Seahawks wasted no time getting on the board in the second. UNCW loaded the bases up with no outs, then took a 6-0 lead on a RBI single, a walked in run, a RBI double, and another RBI single. The Seahawks followed that up in the third inning by once again loading the bases with no outs and pushing 5 more runs across via a walk and two RBI doubles.

Duke managed to keep the Seahawks off the board after the 11 runs in the second and third, but the Blue Devils couldn't muster enough offense to mount a comeback. The lone Duke run was scored via a triple and a sac fly in the 6th.

Starting pitcher Ryan Foster went the distance for the Seahawks in the win, so UNC-Wilmington has a fresh pitching staff for the remainder of the Regional. Brian Mims was responsible for nearly half of UNCW's runs as he had two hits and five RBI in the game.

UNC-Wilmington awaits the winner of tonight's South Carolina-Rhode Island matchup, while Duke will face the loser in an elimination game tomorrow.