ATHENS, GA -- The pitching staff was nearly flawless as the Winthrop baseball team picked up a huge 5-1 non-conference win over 11th-ranked Georgia on Tuesday afternoon at Foley Field in Athens, GA.
The Eagles pitchers only walked one batter in the game and only gave up one unearned run.
“This was certainly a big win for us,” said Winthrop head coach Joe Hudak. “They are a great club and are playing very well right now.”
Winthrop’s season record moves up to 13-19, while Georgia, who had a seven-game winning streak snapped, falls to 20-11.
Freshman right-hander Wade Newman, making his third rehab start, picked up his second win of the year as he had his longest outing thus far pitching 3.2 innings and giving up one unearned run recording no walks and no strikeouts. Senior left-hander Billy Tinsley relieved Newman and pitched effectively for 2.1 innings. Freshman righty Robert Lake also pitched well as he worked 1.1 innings, while senior right-hander slammed the door working 1.2 scoreless innings.
“We needed to score some runs early and throw strikes and that was exactly what we did,” said Hudak. “I’m really pleased with how we threw. Wade Newman threw very well and Billy Tinsley threw extremely well in relief and also Robert Lake threw well.
Offensively, Winthrop was led by freshman outfielder Tony Brunetti’s two-run homer. Junior third baseman Bryn Henderson, who went two for four, and freshman outfielder Bennett Jordan picked up the other RBI in the game for the Eagles.
Right-hander Justin Grimm started on the hill for the Bulldogs and was tagged with the loss as he worked 3.0 innings giving up five runs on six hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Right-hander Steve Esmond was the highlight of the Georgia pitching staff as he threw 5.0 hitless innings.
Georgia’s Gordon Beckham and Matt Olson picked up two hits each to lead their club.
The Eagles opened the scoreboard in the second inning as they produced a couple of runs for a 2-0 lead. Senior outfielder Billy Froehlich was issued a leadoff walk and Brunetti singled on a hit and run to advance him to third. Henderson then came up with a deep double to right field to score Froehlich advancing Brunetti to third. An infield single by Jordan with two outs plated Brunetti.
Winthrop used a big three-run third inning to stretch the lead to 5-0. Sophomore shortstop Kevin Nolan hit a hard line drive to right field to find his way to second base. He then advanced to third on a groundout by Froehlich and scored on a wild pitch by Grimm. Freshman catcher Eddie Rohan was next as he singled and Brunetti hit his first collegiate home run to score two runs.
The Bulldogs took advantage of Winthrop miscues to get on the board scoring a run in the third. Adam Fuller reached base on a fielding error by Nolan, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Newman and scored on a single by Olson.
The Eagles also made two spectacular defensive plays as Froehlich threw a strike to home plate to get Georgia runner Bryce Massanari out at home as he was trying to score from second in the seventh inning, while senior outfielder Louis Ullrich had the last putout of the game as he made a fantastic running catch on a fly ball to right field.
“Billy threw a strike; that was a huge out for us at that moment of the game,” said Hudak. “The rest of the year will be promising for us if we can keep playing the way we are right now.”
The Eagles go back to conference action as they play a three-game series against High Point at The Winthrop Ballpark. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.
