Biddle’s Five-RBI Night Pushes UNCW Past Stony Brook, 7-3
Dylan Smith
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | BRACKET
BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY
ELON, N.C. – An all-time postseason performance from Madison Biddle keeps second-seeded UNCW (32-18) alive with a 7-3 victory over fourth-seeded Stony Brook (22-28) in the 2026 CAA Softball Championship at Hunt Softball Park on Thursday.
The All-CAA Second Team selection unloaded a 4-for-4 performance at the dish, becoming just the sixth player in CAA Tournament history with at least four knocks in a game. Biddle also tied a career-high with five RBIs in the winning effort.
Cassidy Relay and Emily Whitwell also produced a perfect day at the plate with 3-for-3 performances, seeing the latter notch an RBI and two tallies. The Seahawks’ starter Makayla Huddleston produced double-digit strikeouts with 10 in the complete-game effort, picking up her fifth win of the season.
Stony Brook capitalized on an early UNCW miscue to score the game’s first run in the top of the first inning, seeing Josie Alfano cross the plate on an errant throw.
UNCW quickly responded in the home half of the first inning, needing just one swing of the bat. After a leadoff single from Relay, Biddle rocketed a two-run homer to right-center to take a 2-1 lead.
The Seahawks added another run in the bottom of the second frame, thanks to the hot bats at the top of the lineup. Relay moved Whitwell over to third with a single before Biddle cashed in with another RBI knock, this time a single of her own through the left side to go up 3-1.
Stony Brook retaliated in the top of the third and knotted the game at three. Ella Hayes reached on an error before moving to second on a Marissa Thalassinos single up the middle. Rachael Brown loaded the bases with a single of her own, leaving Mia Vannelli to slap a 2-2 offering into left field for a two-run single and a 3-3 tie.
UNCW reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third, with Sierra Persinger starting the frame with a bloop single to center. After moving to second on a groundout, Becca Merrick slapped an RBI double to center to take a 4-3 lead. Two pitches later, Whitwell bumped the edge to two, 5-3, with an RBI triple into the alleyway in left-center.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Seahawks’ Biddle delivered again with the bases loaded in the fifth. The New Jersey product laced a single up the middle, bringing Whitwell and Brookshire around to score and putting UNCW up by four, 7-3.
Huddleston retired the side in order in the sixth inning before shutting the door in the seventh with a game-ending double play.
The Seahawks will return to action on Friday, May 8, for a 2:30 p.m. showdown against top-seeded Hofstra.
Wednesday, May 6
Game 1:
No. 5 Charleston 5, No. 4 Stony Brook 1
Game 2:
No. 3 Campbell 4, No. 6 Elon 3
Game 3:
No. 4 Stony Brook 5, No. 6 Elon 3
Thursday, May 7
Game 4:
No. 5 Charleston 4, No. 1 Hofstra 2
Game 5:
No. 3 Campbell 9, No. 2 UNCW 4
Game 6:
No. 2 UNCW 7, No. 4 Stony Brook 3
Friday, May 8
Game 7: No. 5 Charleston vs. No. 3 Campbell - 12 p.m.
Game 8: No. 2 UNCW vs. No. 1 Hofstra - 2:30 p.m.
Game 9: Winner of Game 8 vs. Loser of Game 7 - 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 9
Game 10: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 - 12 p.m.
Game 11: If Necessary - 2:30 p.m.
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