ROCK HILL, SC— Sophomore Chelsey Schoenfeldt hit and pitched Winthrop to a 7-4 win and a split of a doubleheader on Saturday against Liberty in Big South Conference action at Terry Field.
Schoenfeldt drove in a career-high five runs and earned the win in the circle in the nightcap of Saturday's twin bill. Liberty won the opener 13-6. Winthrop improves to 9-21 overall and captures its first conference win as it is now 1-3 in the league while Liberty is now 11-14 overall and 2-2 in the conference as the two teams will play the rubber game of the series at 2 p.m. Sunday in a game that will be televised live on ESPNU .
Schoenfeldt provided enough offense herself to earn the win as she also tossed four and one-third innings allowing one earned run with a walk and a strikeout to improve to 4-6 on the year. The lone mistake came in the fourth inning when Schoenfeldt gave up a two-out three-run homer to Sammi Shivock, but the inning was kept alive due to an error to the lead-off hitter.
That three-run blast came after Winthrop put up six runs in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a grand slam off the bat of Schoenfeldt with one out. The home run was a line drive to left center and was the fourth of her career. Prior to Schoenfeldt's homer, the bases were loaded for Kathryn Eberlin. All the runners advanced on a wild pitch and Kelly Blea scored for the 1-0 lead. Then Eberlin walked and was followed by the Schoenfeldt home run. Blea added another run later in the inning as she scored Brittany Stoudemire with a single to left.
The Flames cut the lead to 6-4 in the top of the fifth inning when Ashley Bensinger singled to right, scoring McMillon. At that point, Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke made a pitching change and Natalie Becker finished the inning and the remainder of the game. Becker earned her second save of the season as she allowed no runs and no hits with three walks and two strikeouts in two and two-thirds.
Schoenfeldt gave Winthrop a little more separation in the bottom of the fifth when she hit her second home run of the game.
“I think Chelsey did a really good job at the plate all day and she did a good job at getting us deep into the second game,” said Cooke. “In both games Natalie Becker came in and threw well. I thought we executed today. We bunted, moved runners over, scored runs, were aggressive and made plays defensively.”
Liberty's Tiffany Smith suffered the loss as she allowed five runs on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
In the first game Winthrop used a four-run sixth to rally and tie the game at 6-6, but Liberty answered with seven runs in the top of the seventh to take game one of the three-game series.
Shivock's double down the right field line got things started for the Flames and that was followed by an Amber Depasquale single to center and then moved to second as the throw came home. Bridgett Woods drew a walk to load the bases in a pinch-hit appearance. McMillon stepped in and delivered a two-run single through the left side. Kaylee West also came through with a two-run hit to put the game out of reach.
Winthrop battled back to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a two-run home run by Eberlin, the first of her career. Winthrop tied the game on an error by the right fielder, who bobbled a single by Stoudemire just long enough for Schoenfeldt to continue around third and score on the play.
A lead-off walk to Shivock started things off for Liberty in the fourth as it posted two runs for a 5-1 lead. Shivock came around to score on a Keely McMillon single to right field, as she just avoided the tag at home on a nice throw from Teja Durante. McMillon advanced to second on the throw and then scored on an error by Megan Chapman as a grounder went through her legs and into the outfield.
The Eagles got one back in the bottom of the fourth as Ashleigh Jackson scored on a fielding error by the pitcher, Katrina Johnson, as she missed first base with the throw.
Liberty jumped on the Eagles in the first inning as it posted three runs and knocked Winthrop starting pitcher Schoenfeldt from the game. Katie Zavodny led off with a double down the right field line and scored on the next play as McMillon singled to right center. McMillon moved to second on a groundout and then Ashley Bensinger reached on a grounder to second base. Winthrop second baseman dove to keep the ball in the infield, but couldn't get the throw over to first in time for the out. Then Schoenfeldt made a good off speed pitch outside, but Kelly Strickland reached out and pulled it to left field for a 2-0 lead as McMillon scored. Meredith Crisante made it 3-0 when her grounder found its way past third baseman Alex White and shortstop Megan Chapman, which allowed Bensinger to score from second.
At that point Cooke made a couple of switches, including changing pitchers from Schoenfeldt to Natalie Becker. The freshman lefty came in and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Winthrop tried to answer in the bottom of the first inning, but stranded runners at second and third as Veronica Berrie grounded out to short to end the threat.
The Eagles did get one back in the second inning as they loaded the bases with no outs as Stoudemire, Ashleigh Jackson and Blea all singled. Teja Durante struck out swinging, but McKenzie Corn drew a walk to score Stoudemire from third to make it 3-1. Eberlin grounded out to end the threat.
Becker suffered the loss in game one as she allowed six earned runs on seven hits with four walks and six strikeouts as she falls to 3-8 on the year.
Katrina Johnson started the game and allowed three earned runs on eight hits, but didn't factor in the decision as Smith earned the win, despite giving up the two runs that tied the game in the sixth.
Schoenfeldt finished the day at the plate 3-for-4 with two home runs while Jackson finished 4-for-7 with a run. Blea and Stoudemire each had three hits on the day as well.
McMillon was a difficult out all day as she finished 5-for-8 with four runs and four RBI. Strickland was 4-for-7 with three runs while Shivock, Depasquale and Bensinger all had three hits.
