Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop Eagles opened its three-game series with the Liberty Flames on Friday afternoon by splitting a doubleheader at Worthington Stadium. The Eagles dropped the opener 5-2, but responded in the finale winning 2-1.
Winthrop's record on the season is now 10-12 and 3-2 in the Big South, while Liberty is now 13-11 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
In game two of the doubleheader on Friday, Robert Lake (1-2) tossed a season-high 8.0 innings and gave up one run on five hits, no walks and four strikeouts. John Niggli (3-2) took the game two loss throwing 8.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. Eric Ruth (1) earned the save with 1.0 scoreless inning of relief on one hit and one strikeout.
“It was a battle out there today,” said Tom Riginos following the game two win. “Robert pitched an outstanding ballgame. I thought he was able to use his off-speed pitches well. He was able to command them for strikes. His first-pitch strike percentage was outstanding as well getting ahead in the counts. Overall, we played really well compared to the first game which we let get by us. We made a couple of costly errors in the opening game.”
The Eagles went ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning on an RBI single to center field by Brett Thomas. Tyler Cook scored on the hit after he started the game with an infield single to third base.
The Flames tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Austin Taylor came home on a single to left field by Michael Robertson. Taylor reached base on a single to left field, moved to second base and then came home on a fielding error in left field by Chas Crane.
Winthrop took a 2-1 lead with two outs in the top of the ninth on Cam Walter's infield single to Matt Williams at shortstop. The throw by Williams over to Jeff Jefferson at first base bounced short of the first base bag and got away from Jefferson, and allowed Gamblin to score from second base. Gamblin started the inning with an infield single and advanced to second on a single to right field by Adam Gliebe.
Walters led the Eagles offensively in game two with two hits, while Thomas posted the only RBI by either team in the game. Tyler Bream added two hits for Liberty.
In the opening game of the day, Keegan Linza (5-0) pitched a complete game against Winthrop and surrendered two runs on nine hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Tyler Mizenko (2-1) took the loss allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in their half of the second inning on a solo home run over the Winthrop bullpen in right field by Matt Lobacz. It was his first long ball of the season and first as an Eagle.
The Flames tied the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on Doug Bream's RBI single to right field scoring Robertson, who also single to center field two batters earlier.
Winthrop would add one run in the fifth to make it a 2-1 game on an RBI single to right field by Chas Crane. Cook scored on the base hit after he reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.
Liberty responded in the bottom of the fifth plating three runs and took the lead for good at 4-2. The first run of the inning scored after Williams reached on a throwing error by Mizenko, which allowed Robertson to come home all the way from first base. Doug Bream followed by driving in Williams with an RBI triple to center field and later scored on a wild pitch by Mizenko.
In the sixth inning, the Flames added to their lead at 5-2 on Robertson's RBI double to left center field which brought in Taylor, who walked in his at-bat.
Cook, Gamblin and Gliebe all had two hits apiece in game one, while Lobacz and Crane each had an RBI. Robertson and Doug Bream posted two hits each for Liberty and Bream had a team-high two RBI.
The Eagles and Flames will conclude their three-game series with a 3 p.m. matchup on Saturday, Mar. 26.
