(05-21-2021 03:00 PM)bricksnivy Wrote:  

(05-21-2021 08:06 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  Solid coaching adjustments :)

Probably would be worth noting (for those that like to compare programs within the UNCW athletic department) that there have been ups and downs in year 2 with Hood. We finished first in South and we're finishing strong, but this is where we were projected. This is also a program that has won three of the past five CAA tournament championships.

I'm not into comparing the success of one coach/program to another, but if you're going to, don't be selective with the facts.

Not at all comparing the 2. How can you? One has been successful for 20 + years every year and the other has been up and down and has been a 5 year dumpster fire.
Moving Smith to the rotation turned out to be a brilliant move. Someone here noted he needed make adjustments before he did, he did, and it worked just noting that.

(05-21-2021 03:09 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(05-21-2021 03:00 PM)bricksnivy Wrote:  

(05-21-2021 08:06 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  Solid coaching adjustments :)

Probably would be worth noting (for those that like to compare programs within the UNCW athletic department) that there have been ups and downs in year 2 with Hood. We finished first in South and we're finishing strong, but this is where we were projected. This is also a program that has won three of the past five CAA tournament championships.

I'm not into comparing the success of one coach/program to another, but if you're going to, don't be selective with the facts.

Not at all comparing the 2. How can you? One has been successful for 20 + years every year and the other has been up and down and has been a 5 year dumpster fire.
Moving Smith to the rotation turned out to be a brilliant move. Someone here noted he needed make adjustments before he did, he did, and it worked just noting that.

Agree. Clicking at the right time and excited about the momentum. That's my fault for inferring something that wasn't there. Let's take the series tonight!

Down 2 -0 in 1st no outs

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(05-21-2021 02:53 PM)bricksnivy Wrote:  

(05-21-2021 12:14 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  I'm no math wiz, but given that we jumped 20 spots in the RPI with our win last night (now # 65), there might be a chance we can get into the RPI top 50 with another win tonight.

I somehow doubt that, as each win certainly means less of an RPI jump than the prior one (so 15 spots is probably too much), but a sweep would definitely have to get us into the top 50. We then will have at least one more opportunity to face and beat a top 50 RPI team in the tournament, should we face Northeastern (# 39). Games against Elon (# 121), Charleston (# 170) and W&M (# 192) won't be RPI killers, either, as long as we win those games. I just hope we don't face Towson (# 227). And the CAA selection 3-man committee (what a joke) better not do something stupid and put JMU (# 246) into the field over W&M.

I still wouldn't bank on being an at-large contender until we're in the top 40 or so, but you never know. You never want to leave it up to the committee in any case.

Either way, these wins will most certainly help improve our NCAA Regional seed if/when we win the CAA Tournament. That's the biggest takeaway we'll have from the weekend if we win this series or sweep. I can't possibly see this team being a 4-seed at a Regional. We're now firmly a 3-seed at minimum, in my mind. The committee consistently tends to look more positively on teams that finish their seasons strong. We're now winners of 12 of our last 14.

We've had more deserving teams get left out. This UNCC series is about sharpening skills against quality comp and gaining confidence heading into the CAA tourney. I appreciate the enthusiasm, but they'll give an at-large to a middle of the pack ACC team before they look at us.

Right but the larger takeaway for me is that, if we reach the NCAA Tournament, our Regional Seed will not be a 4, especially if we can win this series.

Now a 3-2 game, Charlotte leading, in the 3rd after a bases loaded walk to Mongero and a SAC fly by Baldwin in the 2nd. The Hawks responded right away following Charlotte's 3-run first.

Smith having a tough outing thus far that isn't getting any easier. He's allowed 7 hits so far.

Fortunately, he just got an inning-ending double play to get out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 3rd!

3-2 Charlotte, top 4th.

Baldwin on 2nd with 2 down after a Stolen Base. Marsh is up. A base hit ties it.

Infield hit by Suggs scores Baldwin! Tied 3-3!

Charlotte headed to the pen! We just knocked out their top pitcher in the 4th.

(05-21-2021 06:21 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Charlotte headed to the pen! We just knocked out their top pitcher in the 4th.

Gave up a bunch of walks but not many hits. UNCW hasn't taken advantage so far and has left a lot of runs on the table. This reliever has some pretty nasty numbers. Let's see if we can get one more run this inning.

Marsh just tried to steal home! He was thrown out, but damn, what a gutsy call.

The coaches are arguing something with the umpire now.

With a lefty on the mound against the lefty Weiss I guess they felt it was a worthy shot. Marsh almost got in as the throw was high.

In any case, we head to the bottom of the 4th, tied 3-3.

(05-21-2021 06:25 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Marsh just tried to steal home! He was thrown out, but damn, what a gutsy call.

The coaches are arguing something with the umpire now.

Passed ball or just a flat out steal attempt?

The coaches were arguing the Charlotte pitcher balked, claiming he never came set.

To no avail, of course.

(05-21-2021 06:27 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(05-21-2021 06:25 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Marsh just tried to steal home! He was thrown out, but damn, what a gutsy call.

The coaches are arguing something with the umpire now.

Passed ball or just a flat out steal attempt?

A called double steal with runners on the corners. Suggs was on the move as well as Marsh.

(05-21-2021 06:28 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(05-21-2021 06:27 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(05-21-2021 06:25 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Marsh just tried to steal home! He was thrown out, but damn, what a gutsy call.

The coaches are arguing something with the umpire now.

Passed ball or just a flat out steal attempt?

A called double steal with runners on the corners. Suggs was on the move as well as Marsh.

Damn. They must have seen something in their scouting.

(05-21-2021 06:30 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Damn. They must have seen something in their scouting.

Yep, most likely. Also, perhaps just some experimentation in the final weekend of the season. Something they've been working on in practice, and/or something to keep the other CAA teams guessing.

Nothing to lose really, so might as well throw some trick plays into the mix.

Granted, Weiss has been on fire, but I'm not sure how much of his hot-hitting of late has been coming against left-handed pitching. So trying to make something happen there wasn't a bad baseball decision, even if it didn't work out.

Smith seems to be settling down.

Smith with a clean inning on his end, as he works around a 2-out error to retire the side. Good to see him settling in here.

Still a 3-3 game as we head to the top of the 5th.

Weiss, Brandenburg, Noah Bridges due up.

A look around the league:

Elon, who beat Charleston last night, 10-7, is up 5-0 in the 6th. Should the Phoenix hold on, they clinch the 4th spot in the tournament field and will, I believe, be the 3-seed. NU, UNCW, and Towson are the other teams who have clinched spots in the field.

That is really the only series of any significance at the moment, as NU faces Towson (with both teams already locked into the field) and JMU is in a non-conference series against VCU. Last night, NU beat Towson 15-2, but lost tonight, 2-1. It was just their 3rd CAA loss, as their record fell to 19-3.

Meanwhile, JMU lost to VCU 20-18 last night and currently trails the Rams 4-1 in the 6th.