WILMINGTON, N.C. - Cameron Roth allowed just one run over eight innings and Matt Holt drove in three runs as UNCW opened up a close game with seven runs in the seventh inning for a 9-1 win over Rhode Island on Saturday at Brooks Field.

UNCW upped its record to 11-8 with the win while the Rams dipped to 5-10. The rubber match of the series is slated for a 2 p.m. start on Sunday.

Roth (3-1) won his second straight decision and set career-highs in innings pitched (8) and strikeouts (9). After walking the second batter of the game, Roth settled in to retire the next 10 batters before a two-out single in the fourth.

Holt, meanwhile, keyed a seven-run, seventh inning with a ringing double off the left field wall off reliever Rob Curran. Sophomore Andrew Cain added a bases-loaded single earlier in the inning. The other two runs came across on a wild pitch and a throwing error.

Senior Grayson Evans and freshman Hunter Ridge each added two hits for the Seahawks. Ridge drove in two runs while Evans scored twice.

URI starter Brian Bodjiak (0-1) suffered the loss for the Rams, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings.

Tom Coulombe was the only URI hitter with two hits on the afternoon at a sun drenched Brooks Field. He scored the lone run for the Rams in the fourth when he came home on Evan Laude's RBI single.

Notes: Roth's previous highs were seven innings (vs Duquesne, Mar. 13) and five strikeouts (several times) ... He's received 19 runs of support while allowing just two in his last two starts ... Grayson Evans and Cody Stanley extended their hitting streaks to 12 and 10 games, respectively ... UNCW has scored five or more runs in an inning six times this season ... The Seahawk pitching staff lowered its ERA to 4.18 for the season.