Looks like we're treating the first game tomorrow like a mid-week game, as freshman righty Jacob Shafer will be getting the nod in the series opener. Roupp, Gesell, and Ryan Calvert will follow in succession for games 2, 3 and 4 over the weekend.

Shafer comes to UNCW as the 50th-ranked right handed pitcher in the state, per Perfect Game's 2020 report. Looks like he has a high-80s, possibly low-90s fastball.

Cincinnati arrives at Brooks Field with a 1-5 record to start the season. They were picked to finish 6th in the AAC. Junior lefty Evan Shawyer, picked to make the Preseason All-Conference team, will be throwing on Friday. Shawyer hasn't allowed a run thru 2 starts, but hasn't earned a win due to a lack of run support (5-0 loss to Clemson, 5-4 loss in 12 innings to WKU). He has 11 K's and 6 BB's in 10 innings of work, and has held opposing batters to a .156 average.



https://uncwsports.com/news/2021/3/3/bas...nnati.aspx

Baseball 3/3/2021 5:00:00 PM Tom Riordan

Baseball Preview: Cincinnati


WILMINGTON, N.C. – After committing to a neutral site tournament that ultimately was scrapped, UNCW and Cincinnati begin a four-game series on Thursday with a 4 p.m. start at Brooks Field.

The series continues Friday and Saturday with 4 p.m. starts before wrapping up on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The two programs were scheduled to play in a tournament host by Campbell, but Indiana withdrew when the Big 10 went to a conference only schedule and the Big South, which has Campbell as a member, reduced the number of non-conference games teams could play.

The Seahawks won their second series in as many tries last weekend when they won the second and third games of a series against visiting Western Carolina. The Catamounts opened the series with an 8-2 win, but UNCW evened the series with an 8-6 win on Saturday and claimed the series with a 10-6 win in the finale.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, avoided a sweep at Western Kentucky with an 11-3 win in the second game of a doubleheader in Bowling Green, Ky. The Bearcats dropped a pair of 5-4 decisions before taking the finale in a blowout.

The Bearcats have gotten off to a 1-5 start and opened the season with three losses at Clemson.

All four games this series will be streamed by UNCW. Thursday and Friday will be streamed on the Seahawk Digital Network before moving over to FloSports, a subscription service, for the final two games.

Links to all streaming and live stats can be found at UNCWSport.com/coverage.

We need to absolutely dominate Cincinnati.

Hawks already up 3-0 heading into the 2nd inning!

Shafer pitched a quick 1-2-3 inning in the first inning of his collegiate career. The Hawks supported him with 3 hits and a pair of walks in the bottom of the frame to produce those 3 runs.

6 up, 6 down for Shafer and he’s only thrown 22 pitches so far.

Hawks win a crazy one, 14–10!

Pen a little shaky thus far so it’s a good thing we can score runs.

(03-04-2021 07:52 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Pen a little shaky thus far so it’s a good thing we can score runs.

Actually, the pen has been a real source of strength to this point when you focus in on the top 6 or 7 guys the coaches like to use. We have five guys with a 0.00 ERA. 2 of our top 4 in K's are relief pitchers, which is not typical. In 4 of our 7 games to date, our starter got knocked out of the game prior to completing 5 innings. We won 3 of those 4 games largely because the pen kept us in the game.

The reason it was shaky today was the coaches clearly wanted to save the top bullpen arms. Once we took an 8-0 lead in this one, the next arm in when Shafer got into trouble was Langmeyer, and he and then Hudak promptly got roughed up. Before we knew it it was an 8-7 game. But Gorham tossed 3 pretty good innings to finish the game and end up the pitcher of record.

Game flow dictated we shouldn't use Hodges, the Benton's, Cota, or Adam Smith in this one. All 5 being available for the next 2 days, with Roupp and Gesell on the bump to start, puts us in a great position to take games 2 and 3 of the series as well.

Meanwhile, it stands to get even stronger when Gage Herring returns within the next few weeks. He'll likely come out of the pen, at least to start with, when he gets back.

Thanks Nation. I didn’t know Gage was hurt. Yes, he definitely has proven to be able to get it done in the past.

Roupp tosses a 1-2-3 inning, and then Baldwin leads off for the game for the Hawks with a HR to left, and Bridges also gets an RBI infield single to make it 2-0!

Shawyer hadn’t allowed a run yet on the season and yet the Hawks jump on him early!

4-0!!

What a wild inning. Top 2, 4-0 Hawks!

Down 6- 4 bot 6th

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Roupp gave up all 6 runs. Luckily the pen is keeping us in it. 2 solid shutout innings by Cota.

7-4, bottom 9. 3 outs to figure it out!

7-4 final

Shut out for 8 innings...

Roupp needs to get his $hit together he’s too good to look like he had thus far


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Blame the offense on this debacle.

(03-05-2021 06:56 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Blame the offense on this debacle.

The offense touched up an ace that Clemson didn’t score a run off of. I blame our ace for giving up a 6 spot


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They got it done early, but didn't keep the pressure on. Until we get consistent shut down arms which we imagined could be, this offense needs to continue to roll. This offense is very good 1-9 so they didn't keep the right approach-should have tacked on a few somewhere after a 4 spot. Yes, their guy is good, but so are UNCW hitters as well. Sounds like we weren't patient and got long with swings in genera,l but didn't see it.

It always goes back to shut down arms at some point and that is true. Good pitching is key and always has been. We just have to focus on all 3 phases of the game until we get our pitching straightened out. It's a good thing that our offense is generally exceptional, that's all I've got to say because our arms, in general, have been average with respect to giving up runs.

Rouppe will become Rouppe again. He may be pressing at this point, but should just be himself. Often times guys change things up to improve their game and it takes a bit, perhaps that's the case, dunno. Regardless, it's just one game and they need to get mad and come back Saturday playing with a renewed edge. This is a good team and they know it, so expect them to play well.