COLUMBIA, SC— Winthrop softball dropped its fourth straight game after allowing seven runs over the final two innings in an 8-3 loss to South Carolina, Wednesday evening in non-conference action at Beckham Field.
The Eagles were leading 2-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning when a three-run home run by Kaitlin Westfall put the Game cocks in front for good, 4-2. Lauren Lackey led off the inning with a single and moved to second when Laura Mendes reached on an error. Then Westfall stepped up and pulled a home run over the left field fence on a full count.
Winthrop falls to 15-32 overall on the year while South Carolina is now 26-27.
“For five innings we were right in it and they got that home run and it was the difference in the game,” said Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke. “We swung the bats well which should help us build some confidence heading into Sunday's and next week's games.”
The Eagles tried to claw their way back into the game in the top of the sixth as Megan Chapman led off the inning with a single. Kathryn Eberlin followed with a single to right and moved over on a throw that tried to nail Chapman going to third, but both runners were safe with no outs. Chelsey Schoenfeldt, who has been on a tear the last 20 games, was intentionally walked to load the bases. Veronica Berrie struck out looking on a 0-2 count before Lauren Levin plated Chapman on a sacrifice fly to left. The inning and the threat ended on a Kelly Blea line out to right field.
South Carolina continued to swing the bats well as Samie Garcia led off the sixth with a bunt single and then scored as Lackey tripled to right center. Lackey scored on a throwing error by the pitcher, Ashleigh Jackson, on a throw to first. That allowed Mendes to reach safely and move to second base. Mendes came around to score two batters later on a single to center by Molly Brossart for an 8-3 lead.
Winthrop took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Eberlin singled up the middle, scoring Chapman and Jenna Harbin with two outs.
Schoenfeldt falls to 8-14 on the year as she allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits with no walks and two strikeouts in four and one-third innings.
Ashley Chastain improved to 4-4 on the year as she allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts in a complete game effort.
Chapman and Eberlin both finished with two hits each while Harbin and Taylor Wright picked up the other Winthrop hits.
Winthrop will finish the regular season on Sunday, May 8 with a double-header beginning at 3 p.m. at Charlotte.
