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Tyler Cook at the plate

Baseball Rallies For 2-1 Win In Big South Opener Over VMI

Cook Had Game-Winning RBI Against VMI

Cook Drives In Go-Ahead Run With Double In Eighth Inning

Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC – Tyler Cook's one-out RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Winthrop Eagles to a 2-1 Big South opening victory over the VMI Keydets on Friday evening at The Winthrop Ballpark.

The Eagles even their record at 8-8 on the season and 1-0 in the conference, while the Keydets fall to 9-9-1 overall and 0-1 in Big South play.

Eric Ruth (3-0) earned the win in relief tossing 2.0 scoreless innings on two hits, no walks and three strikeouts. He came on in the eighth inning for starter Tyler Mizenko, who contributed a solid start allowing one run on six hits, no walks and seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. Michael Devine (0-2) took the loss surrendering one run on one hit, two walks and one strikeout in 1.0 inning pitched.

“It all started with pitching and defense tonight,” said head coach Tom Riginos. “Tyler Mizenko was outstanding tonight, as was Eric Ruth. Eric has been outstanding all year long; every time you put him out there you have a lot of confidence. Mizenko has been like this every Friday night giving us a chance to win. I will give the guys credit because we battled. If we can get the pitching and defense like we got against The Citadel (on Wednesday) and tonight we are going to have some success.”

The double by Cook came after Chas Crane scored the tying run with no outs on a wild pitch by Devine. He led off the Winthrop portion of the eighth inning with a walk and made it all the way to third base with two straight wild pitches. Eddie Rohan came home on the double by Cook as he followed Crane with a walk.

VMI plated its only run of the contest in the top of the seventh to take a 1-0 lead over the Eagles. Rob Dickinson started the inning with a single off Mizenko and moved to second base on a balk. He would then move to third after a groundout by Chase Worthington, and came home on a wild pitch by Mizenko.

Five different Winthrop batters recorded one hit apiece on the evening, while Cook produced the lone RBI for the Eagles. Eight Keydet hitters also posted one hit each in the series opener.

Winthrop and VMI will be back in action on Saturday, Mar. 19 with game two of the three-game series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
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