CONWAY, SC— A three-run sixth gave Winthrop a 3-0 win in game one, but it dropped the second game of the double-header 5-1 in a split at Coastal Carolina, Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles are now 12-23 overall and 2-5 in the Big South as their winning streak ended at three games. Coastal Carolina is now 15-22 overall and 1-3 in the conference as the win in the nightcap ended a 16-game losing streak.
The Eagles took the first lead in the top of the second when Kelly Blea reached on a bases loaded fielder's choice, but Chelsey Schoenfeldt scored. Schoenfeldt extended her hitting streak to nine games with a single up the middle to lead off the inning. She moved to second on a Veronica Berrie single and the bases were loaded after an Ashleigh Jackson single
Coastal scored its first run of the afternoon as it immediately tied up the game as Jazmin Daigle led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to left field.
The Chanticleers made it 3-1 in the bottom third inning as they got a lead-off single for the second straight inning as Brooke Donovan singled to right. Donovan moved to second as Jessie Winans reached on an error. Both runners moved over a base on a passed ball and then two batters later Michelle Evans drew a walk to load the bases. At that point Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke made a pitching change as Natalie Becker replaced Jackson. Daigle singled right away off Becker to make it 2-1 and then Sarah Maples singled up the middle for a 3-1 lead.
For the second time in the game, Coastal Carolina led off the inning with a home run as Olivia Piccirillo hit one straight away. Donovan followed with a single and stole second before Schoenfeldt recorded the first and second out. But Coastal wasn't done as Evans singled to right to put runners at the corners. Once again, Daigle came through for the Chanticleers as she singled through the left side for a 5-1 lead.
Jackson suffered the loss and is now 3-8 as she allowed three runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Schoenfeldt finished 1-for-2 and scored the only run while Evans kept the Eagles bats in check with just four hits and no walks to go along with five strikeouts.
Winthrop survived a pitcher's duel in the first game as it scored the only runs of the game in the third inning and pulled off a 3-0 victory for its third straight win.
Heading into the sixth, the teams combined to leave just two runners stranded and a total of four hits until Winthrop finally broke through. Berrie led off with a bunt singled and was moved over to second on a sacrifice by Teja Durante. Megan Chapman followed with a single up the middle and advance to second on the throw as Berrie held up at third. Jenna Harbin reached on a fielder's choice and was thrown out trying to take second, but both runners scored for a 2-0 lead. Kathryn Eberlin doubled to left to keep things going and Schoenfeldt continued to swing a hot bat as she singled to score Eberlin and an insurance run.
Schoenfeldt only allowed one hit over the final six batters and earned the complete game shutout, the first of her career. She allowed just three hits with no walks and struck out two batters to improve to 6-6 on the year. She finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate to extend her hitting streak to eight games.
Brittany Stoudemire went 1-for-3 and also extended her hitting streak to eight games.
Winthrop and Coastal Carolina will wrap-up the weekend series on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m.
