Box Score
CHARLESTON, SC – The Winthrop baseball team defeated the Charleston Southern Buccaneers 7-3 in the rubber game of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon at the CSU Ballpark.
The Eagles improve to 15-16 on the season and 3-6 in the conference, while the Buccaneers fall to 15-20 overall and 4-7 in conference play.
“Hopefully, this is a step in the right direction for us,” said head coach Joe Hudak. “To win a series on the road is always good, but to win a series on the road after losing game one is exceptional. We're happy about that.”
Wade Newman (3-2) tossed 6.0 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits, three walks and tied his career-high for strikeouts with eight to pick up the win on the mound. Andrew White (1-3) took the loss throwing 6.0 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits, three walks and two strikeouts.
“Wade made some really good pitches when he needed to,” Hudak said. “I thought he threw a good game.”
Winthrop jumped ahead of Charleston Southern 2-0 in the top of the third inning on Tyler Cook's two-run double down the left field line. Adam Gliebe and Tyler McBride both scored on the hit by Cook after Gliebe led off the inning with a walk and McBride reached on a bunt single.
The Eagles increased their lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning on a bunt single to third base by Gliebe. Thielepape came home on the infield hit after starting the inning with a single to center field, and moved to third on Chas Crane's sacrifice bunt and Matt Pierpont grounded out to shortstop.
The Buccaneers cut the deficit to 3-2 in their half of the fourth on a two RBI triple to left field by Brantley Meier. Derek Smith and Jaren Sustar would score on the triple as Smith singled to center field and Sustar walked prior to Meier coming to the plate.
Charleston Southern tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth on Matt Still's RBI double to right field that drove in Tom Burkett from second base. Burkett doubled down the left field line in the previous at-bat.
Winthrop got the lead back at 5-3 in its half of the sixth with Gliebe's two RBI single to left field. Thielepape and Crane came home on the single as Thielepape walked and Crane singled to left field earlier in the inning.
The Eagles extended their lead over the Buccaneers to 7-3 in the seventh inning on back-to-back bases loaded walks by Eddie Rohan and Thielepape.
“This is good for our club and something that we can build on,” added Hudak.
Cook and Gliebe each had a team-high three hits in the series finale, while Gliebe drove in three runs. Meier posted a team-best two hits and two RBI for Charleston Southern.
Winthrop will be back in action on Wednesday, Apr. 14 as it will travel up Interstate 77 to face the Charlotte 49ers at 6 p.m.
