Box Score | Season Statistics | Infographic

WILMINGTON, N.C. – After plating two ninth-inning runs on Friday night to force extra innings against UNCW, the Northeastern baseball team was unable to complete its comeback during the game's late stages as the Huskies lost the two teams' series opener, 4-3, on Casey Golden's 12th-inning home run.
 
The defeat coupled with College of Charleston's 7-6 loss on Friday against William & Mary allowed Northeastern (22-20, 11-5 CAA) to maintain its half-game lead for first place in the CAA. However, due to victories by UNCW (22-22, 10-6 CAA) and William & Mary, the top four teams in the conference are now separated by only one game in the conference standings.
 
Nate Borges delivered seven solid innings as the Huskies' starting pitcher, keeping the Seahawks at bay after they had taken a 3-1 lead during the bottom of the third inning. The senior right-hander minimalized the damage of eight hits, firing three strikeouts while retiring seven batters in a row from the third inning through the end of the fifth. On his 102nd pitch of the night, Borges induced a 4-6-3 double play that closed the seventh inning, netting him a career-long outing in terms of innings pitched.
 
Jimmy Hand reached four times to lead NU, going three-for-four with a walk. He and Max Burt combined to swing five of the Huskies' seven hits.
 
UNCW's Golden was a nagging thorn in Northeastern's side from the very first inning, when he opened the bottom of the first with a first-pitch double down the left field line. Two pitches later, he crossed the plate for the first of three times on Friday, being driven in on Terence Connelly's double down the opposite foul line.
 
After Cam Hanley had fielded a ground ball by himself at first base, Brian Mims widened the Seahawks' first-inning lead to 2-0, channeling an RBI single to center field.
 
Northeastern provided a quick answer to UNCW's lead during the top of the second inning. Nick Fanneron received a free pass to first base upon being grazed on the hands and made it safely to second after Cole Weiss was unable to handle Burt's chopper to shortstop, resulting in an error. With two on and nobody out, Pat Madigan belted an RBI single into left field, scoring Fanneron and halving the Huskies' deficit to 2-1.
 
Like during the first inning, Golden began the bottom of the third with another leadoff double, moving up 90 feet on Connelly's groundout to the right side. After Borges had walked Nick Feight, Mims slapped a ground ball to Charlie McConnell at third base that took the inning-ending double play out of the equation, allowing Golden to come home on the RBI fielder's choice and give the Seahawks a 3-1 advantage.
 
Northeastern had its best opportunity to draw level with UNCW during the top of the fifth, when McConnell smoked a two-out double to left field, bringing both he and David Hopkins into scoring position. However, Mason Koppens swung through a 1-2 pitch, becoming one of Alex Royalty's seven strikeouts during his seven-inning outing.
 
Both teams remained off the scoreboard until the top of the ninth inning, when Northeastern began orchestrating a late-game rally. With one out, Max Burt's fly ball dropped in right field and was kicked into the home team's bullpen, giving the NU junior plenty of time to leg out his first triple of the season. After Burt had bee-lined home on a wild pitch, Pat Madigan continued the inning with a walk, causing UNCW to head to the bullpen.
 
With Clark Cota on the hill and Cam Walsh pinch-running for Madigan, Hand stroked a single through the right side, during which Walsh advanced to third. Arriving at the plate in a pinch-hit situation, Zach Perry then beat out a delayed double-play ball at first base, allowing Walsh to come home and tie the game at 3-3.
 
Northeastern ended the bottom of the ninth inning by turning its third double play of the game. Mike Fitzgerald entered in relief during the bottom of the 10th, striking out the UNCW side while adding two more strikeouts during the 11th.
 
Hand's 11th-inning single gave NU the only base runner it would see before Golden powered the walk-off homer during the bottom of the 12th.
 
UP NEXT
 
Northeastern and UNCW will resume their series on Saturday, May 6, at 6 p.m.