Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop baseball team used a four-run sixth inning to pick up its fourth consecutive win to open the season after defeating the Marist Red Foxes 10-9 on Monday afternoon at The Winthrop Ballpark, on the final day of The Bojangles Baseball Classic.
The Eagles improve to 4-0 overall, while the Red Foxes fall to 1-3 on the season.
"This was a different ballgame and it was good for us," said head coach Joe Hudak. "It's good to see us in a tight game and see how we react. We got some breaks (today), but we played well."
Greg Hough (1-0) picked up the victory pitching 2.2 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits, no walks and two strikeouts. Brendan Chapin took the loss after surrendering five runs (one earned) on four hits, no walks and one strikeout in 3.1 innings pitched. Tyler Mizenko earned his first save of the season going 2.2 innings and giving up one run on two hits, two walks and one strikeout.
Marist took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Ricky Pacione's RBI double over the head of Tyler McBride in center field scoring Zach Shank from second base. Shank led off the game with a double into the right center field gap.
Winthrop tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first after Chas Crane singled to the third baseman and brought home Tyler Cook from second who started the inning with a single to right field and moved to second base on Eddie Rohan's single up the middle.
The Red Foxes answered back with three runs in their half of the second to increase their lead to 4-1 on a bases clearing double to center field by Ryan Gauck. Jon Schwind, Mark Stuckey and Shank all scored on the double by Gauk. Schwind led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second base when Stuckey singled to left field. Both runners then moved up one base when Shank drew a walk.
The Eagles cut the deficit to 4-2 in the bottom of the second inning on Matt Pierpont's first collegiate home run that sailed over the scoreboard in left center field.
Winthrop scored three runs to take a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the third highlighted by an RBI triple to left center field by Crane that scored Matt Thielepape. Thielepape started things off for the Eagles in the third with his double to right center field. Crane then scored on an RBI single by Pierpont. Pierpont then stole second and McBride followed with an RBI single to left centerfield scoring Pierpont.
Marist made it a 5-5 in the fourth inning after scoring one run on an RBI groundout by Gauck that scored Richard Curylo. Curylo began the inning with a leadoff single and moved over to third after Stuckey singled and Shank sacrificed him over. The Red Foxes then had runners on first and third with two outs when Greg Hough retired Bryce Nugent on strikes to end the inning. Hough came on in relief on Ken Monteith, who also relieved Eagle starter Dom Patterozzi in the second inning.
Marist regained the lead at 6-5 in the top of the sixth after Gauck scored on a throwing error, which allowed Pacione to reach. Gauck singled in his at-bat, advanced to second on a throwing error and went to third on a wild pitch.
The Eagles then scored four runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning that began with Sean Sullivan's RBI single to left field that scored Pierpont, who singled to start the inning. Pierpont moved over to third after a McBride sacrifice bunt and Cook reaching on an error. Sullivan and Cook would both score after Rohan tripled to center field. A wild pitch by Chapin allowed Rohan to score from third base.
The Red Foxes responded with two more runs in the top of the seventh to cut Winthrop's lead to 9-8. Michael Gallic got the inning started with solo home run that just made it over the left field fence, and Ben Luderer scored on Curylo's double to left center field. Luderer reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning. Mizenko came on in relief of Hough to record the final two outs of the inning after the double by Curylo.
A solo home run to left center field by Crane to lead off the bottom of the seventh increased Winthrop's lead to two runs at 10-8. It was the first homer of the season for Crane.
Marist reduced the Eagles to 10-9 in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Nugent that drove in Gauck from second base. Gauck walked to start the inning and then stole second.
"I am really happy with our guys," Hudak added. "One of the things that I am most excited about is the contributions we got from so many guys."
Crane and Pierpont led Winthrop offensively with three hits apiece, while Crane had a team-best three RBI. Rohan and Pierpont added two RBI each. Gallic and Stuckey both had three hits to lead the Red Foxes at the plate, and Gauck drove in four RBI on the night.
The Eagles will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. as they host Wagner in the first game of a three-game series.
