May 21, 2001
ROCK HILL, SC– After a 46-14-1 season, the Winthrop baseball team was rewarded Monday afternoon for its hard work with an at-large bid into the collegiate baseball NCAA Regional in Wilson, NC, which begins Friday, May 25.
The Eagles fell to Coastal Carolina 3-2 in the Big South Conference championship game on Sunday and the rest of their season was put in the hands of the selection committee. The selection committee came through for coach Joe Hudak and his squad sending them to face No. 3 seed South Florida in the opening round game at 3:00 p.m.. No. 1 seed and host East Carolina will face No. 4 seed University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), a former Big South school, in the second game at 7:00 p.m.
Wins over Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, The Citadel, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Indiana helped the Eagles earn an at-large bid. The at-large bid was the first by a Big South school in any sport.
East Carolina, the top seed, is not affiliated with a conference and also received an at-large bid. The Pirates are 44-11 on the year and ranked 10th in Collegiate Baseball and in Baseball America and are 12th by Baseball Weekly/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll.
The University of South Florida is 32-28 and received an at-large bid out of Conference USA after losing to Tulane in the championship game. UMBC got an at-large bid with a 31-18-2 record.
If the Eagles defeat the USF Bulls, they will play next at 3 p.m. Saturday. A loss would send Winthrop into a 11:30 a.m. game on Saturday.
An allotment of 200 tickets has been made available to Winthrop fans. The tournament is a sell out otherwise. To reserve a ticket, either contact Debbie Newsome at 323-2129, ext. 6223 or visit her office on the lower level of the coliseum by 3 p.m. Tuesday. Ticket prices are $60 for reserve seating and $48 for general admission. Single game or single session tickets are being sold for this tournament. Fans must purchase an all-tournament ticket. The team will be staying at the Holiday Inn in Rocky Mount, NC. To make a reservation at the Holiday Inn, contact Doneva Chavis at 252-937-6888. The Eagles will practice at 11:30 a.m. at Fleming Stadium on Thursday.
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