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HARRISONBURG, Va. – Jake Farrell's ninth-inning solo home run during Thursday's CAA tournament game against UNCW went down as the only troubling mark on Alex Royalty's complete game report card as the top-seeded Northeastern baseball team lost its postseason opener, 9-2, against the fourth-seeded Seahawks at James Madison's Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park.
 
Northeastern (33-18) had difficulty figuring out Royalty throughout the morning, managing to swing just three hits against the right-hander during his 102-pitch outing. Royalty struck out five batters and walked none, surrendering only one free base to John Mazza, who was pegged with a pitch during the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
The Huskies and UNCW (35-20) traded one-run second innings before the Seahawks rallied for five runs during the top of the fourth inning and another three runs during the eighth inning.
 
Cole Weiss opened the game's scoring with his solo home run off Sean Mellen, who was handed his second loss of the season (10-2). Mellen was ultimately charged with four earned runs, surrendering a fourth-inning, leadoff homer to Kep Brown and walking two more batters before exiting after three and one-third innings – his second shortest start of the year.
 
Scott Holzwasser responded to Weiss' homer with a leadoff single for Northeastern during the bottom of the second inning. Holzwasser moved into scoring position on Cam Walsh's groundout to the left side and knotted the game at 1-1 when Ryan Solomon's shallow flare to center field dropped between converging defenders for an RBI single.
 
With Mellen out and Brian Rodriguez in during the fourth inning, Zack Canada delivered a two-RBI double immediately before Ryan Jeffers knocked a two-run homer to right field, putting UNCW ahead, 6-1.
 
Offensively, Northeastern avoided a double play during the bottom of the fifth inning, when Doug Angeli's dropped catch at second base allowed Mazza and Mason Koppens to both reach safely. Mazza proceeded to tag and go to third on Charlie McConnell's ensuing fly ball to right field, but he would advance no farther as Ian Fair struck out to retire the side.
 
Like UNCW, NU also missed an opportunity to turn two outs during the eighth inning as Farrell scooped up an infield grounder but booted his throw to Burt at second base. The miscue allowed the Seahawks to score the first of three unearned runs against rookie Brandon Dufault, who conceded just two hits during his three and two-thirds innings of relief.
 
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With the loss, Northeastern will play its first elimination game on Friday, May 25, at 3 p.m. The Huskies' opponent will be either fifth-seeded Delaware or the losing side of Thursday's second semifinal game between second-seeded Elon and third-seeded College of Charleston.