a~k UNC-Wilrnington Since 1948 Inside Seahawks out run Aggies in season opener This BEN ..JONES -. SPORTS EDITOR ·,1 Issue. On a crisp February afternoon. Brooks Field made the setting for UNCW's baseball season opener against 3 North Carolina A&T. In front of over 300 fans, UNC Wilmington blew past the Aggies, 9-2. UNCW The Seahawks were able to stop N .C. professors A&T's offensive attack with a solid and gradu­ pitching effort by junior Matt McDonnell (l-0). McDonnell, a native of Oak Hall, ate look at Va. , struck out six batters in six innings popular with no walks for UNCW. churches A&T sophomore Quincy Jones gave 5 the Aggies an early 1-0 lead after sin­ gling in sophomore Austin Love at the James Fl,nt,'Ttt. s.ahaM top of the second inning. Junior Matt McDonnell hurls the first pitch of the baseball season to Hoop UNCW responded with three runs in shortstop Adonis Smith of N. C. A& T last Saturday at Brooks Field. the bottom of the third, off the bat of jun­ McDonnell struck out six batters in six innings as UNCW won, 9-2. ior David McKenna and acting on errors bases loaded. The fourth and fifth innings remained Seahawk in the Aggie field. Freshman Pat Murphy The trouble continued for A&T after unmanageable for Miller. UNCW put men scored on a McKenna single to center changing pllchers in the third. As soon up a run in each inning from Aggie mis­ improve to field. The Seahawks then added a run as junior Charles Miller took the mound, takes and solid Seahawk hilling. after Aggie pitcher Joe Locklear (0-1) McKenna was able to score off a wild 12 - 9 with SEE OPENER, PAGE 3 win over walked sophomore Matt Wright with the pitch. James Madison New promotions to increase fan participation 9 SARAH BUSICK community. The cheerleaders, the crease fan parttc1pa11on. Even dance team, the pep band and sev­ though the team won the CAA STAFF WRITER eral student groups help raise the championship last year, Trask Coli­ Only 26 days lef Track Coliseum is earning its level of noise in Trask Coliseum. seum has only reached capacity dur­ reputation as the toughest place to "l think our team and coaches ing homecoming and ECU games. until Spring Break. play in the Colonial Athletic Asso­ thrive on the noise [and] the enthu­ "This year 1s the highest ever in ciation. siasm," Director of Athletics Peg season ticket sales, but l want us to Check out Sprin The men's basketball program at Bradley-Doppes said. get to the point where we have that UNC Wilmtngton has support from Athletic marketing and promo­ type of energy no matter who we Break deals an the students, adm1nistrat1on and tions at UNCW are trying to in- play," Bradley-Doppes said. Some promotions at games this other in eresting of­ year include giving away balloons, candy and pompoms. The bookstore fers in the Seahawk sponsors a $350 book scholarship for one student fan at the game. Class· ieds, page 8 There is also a fan-of-the-game that wins various prizes based on seat number. Get registered with our new website A new marketing plan this year www.theseahawk.org is the Game Day Flag program. Van­ ous businesses along South College Road and New Centre Drive can purchase flags to promote the bas­ ketball game that night. About 25 businesses have purchased flags since the promotion began in Sep­ tember. According to Angela Pucher, as­ James Flint/The Seahawk Organized fan clubs in recent years have contributed to Trask sistant director of sports marketing, Coliseum's growing reputation as the toughest place to play in the SEE FANS, PAGE 2 Colonial Athletic Association. .