ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop baseball team will begin the Big South portion of its 2011 schedule this weekend hosting the VMI Keydets at The Winthrop Ballpark.
The Eagles enter the weekend sporting a 7-8 overall record after snapping a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 midweek victory on Wednesday night against The Citadel Bulldogs. It was the first victory for Winthrop over the Bulldogs since a 12-9 win at Riley Park on Apr. 1, 2009. The victory was also the first in a midweek game ever since a 12-5 win against the Harvard Crimson at The Winthrop Ballpark on Mar. 16, 2010.
Winthrop is led on offense by senior catcher Eddie Rohan with a .444 average at the plate. Rohan, along with freshman outfielder TJ Olesczuk, is sporting a 12-game hitting streak entering the weekend. It is a career-high for both players. Olesczuk has recorded all 17 of his hits this season during his hitting streak, and is second on the team with a .395 average. Rohan's previous career-best came in the form of an 11-game hit streak as a freshman during the 2008 season. Sophomore left fielder has a team-leading one homer on the season, while Rohan and redshirt junior designated hitter Brett Thomas have driven in 11 runs apiece. On the mound for the Eagles, sophomore Eric Ruth, junior Tyler Mizenko and senior Matteo D'Angelo are tied for the team-lead with two wins each. Ruth has compiled a 2.89 ERA and opponent batting average, while senior Robert Lake's 23.0 innings pitched are best on the team this season.
The Keydets are 9-8-1 on the season and are also beginning conference play this weekend. They are under the direction of head coach Marlin Ikenberry, who is a former VMI baseball player. Ikenberry is in his eighth season at the helm of the Keydet program, and holds a 203-197-1 career mark. Sam Roberts leads the VMI offense with a .359 and is one of five players with one home run of the season. George Piccirilli is one of those five players with one homer and leads the team with 14 RBI. Jeremy Brown is 2-0 overall for the Keydets pitching staff and a 0.90 ERA. He has allowed two earned runs in 20.0 innings pitched. Jason Farley posts a team-best 22.0 innings pitched.
Winthrop leads the all-time series, which began during the 2004 season, 18-7 overall and 8-2 at The Winthrop Ballpark. The Eagles won the first all-time meeting 14-3 in Rock Hill on Apr. 23, 2004, and also 11-6 in an elimination game of the 2010 Big South Tournament. Winthrop has a series-best six game winning streak in this series from 2004-06, while also posting a four-game streak from 2007-08, and three-game streaks from 2008-09 and 2009-10.
The Eagles will hit the road next week for a two-game midweek series against No. 1 Florida in Gainesville, FL (Mar. 22-23) before traveling to Lynchburg, VA for a three-game series with the Liberty Flames.
