COLUMBIA, SC— Winthrop pounded out 16 hits and cruised to a 12-4 victory in six innings over Furman in its season opener in the first game of the Palmetto State Showdown, Friday morning at Beckham Field on the campus of the University of South Carolina.
The Lady Eagles (1-0) poured it on early, scoring 11 of the 12 runs in the first two innings.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning, Winthrop answered with five runs on six hits. The inning was highlighted by an RBI double from Taylor Wright, an RBI single from Chelsey Schoenfeldt and an RBI triple from Veronica Berrie.
Furman (0-1) scored the first run of the game as it took advantage of a pitching miscue from freshman Natalie Becker, whose pitch was wild and allowed Stephanie Field to score from third. Field led off the game by drawing a walk and advanced to second on a second straight walk by Becker and moved to third on a sacrifice hit.
The lead was cut to 5-3 in the top of the second inning with two outs as Nikki Legg came through with a two-run single to center with the bases loaded. Furman tried to score all three runners, but Teja Durante nailed Field at the plate.
The power bats came out in the second inning as Schoenfeldt, Berrie and Brittany Stoudemire all homered. Schoenfeldt started it off with a two-run blast straight away with one out, scoring Wright as well. Berrie followed right away with a home run to center, the ninth of her career. The fourth and fifth runs of the inning came off the bat of Stoudemire as she hit a two-run shot to right field, the first of her career.
“We smoked it today,” said Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke. “We just hit it hard. It was a good day to hit the ball well as Becker was a little nervous and shaky. She had freshman nervousness on the mound, very uncharacteristic of her. AJ (Ashleigh Jackson) replaced her and threw a good game. It was a good way for us to open the season.”
Becker finished the game with three earned runs on two hits, three strikeouts and five walks in two innings of work.
Furman added another run in the fourth inning as Katie Michaels scored on an illegal pitch by Jackson. It was the only run allowed by Jackson as she gave up three hits in four innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
Winthrop ended the game in the sixth inning due to the eight-run rule when Jackson scored on a ground out to second by Megan Chapman.
Berrie paced the offense with three hits, two runs and two RBI. Wright, Chapman, Schoenfeldt and Stoudemire each had two hits each. Every starter for Winthrop had at least one hit. McKenzie Corn collected her first collegiate hit and Paige Hartfield scored her first collegiate run.
The opening weekend will continue for Winthrop as it takes on Charleston Southern at 5 p.m. Saturday and then two games on Sunday against Coastal Carolina at 12:30 p.m. and USC Upstate at 3 p.m.
