Box Score

CLEARWATER, FL—Winthrop jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but that was all the offense it would get in a tough 6-1 loss to 17^th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette on the final day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

With the loss, the Eagles drop to 5-8 on the season and have lost four straight. Louisiana-Lafayette remained one of the only undefeated teams this weekend and go home with a record of 12-0.

The Eagles scored in the top of the 1^st inning as McKenzi Corn drew the walk and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Kathryn Eberlin walked, bringing up Chelsey Schoenfeldt, the Eagles best hitter with runners on base. She delivered a single to right field that scored Corn to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead to start the game.

“We played eye-to-eye to with one of the best teams of the country until the 5^th inning,” said Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke. “I couldn't be happier with the team's performance today. We put pressure on an experienced, excellent ball club and really played great.”

The Ragin' Cajuns answered back in the bottom half of the 2nd inning and tied the score at 1-1. Paige Cormier led off the inning with a single to right center that was followed by a single up the middle from Sarah Drahiem. Erikka Murphy grounded out to 3^rd base but it was enough to score Cormier. Pitcher Chelsey Schoenfeldt got Katie Smith to pop out to Megan Chapman at shortstop to end the threat.

Schoenfeldt held the #17 Ragin' Cajuns to just the one run until the 4^th inning. After a leadoff walk by Cormier, Natalie Fernandez and Murphy hit back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out. Katie Smith hit a single up the middle to score Cormier and Fernandez, making the score 3-1 Ragin' Cajuns. The Eagles ended the inning by getting Nerissa Myers to fly out to center and doubling off Murphy at second base.

The Ragin' Cajuns struck again in the bottom of the 5^th inning. They scored another run off a double by Matte Haack and an RBI single by Cormier. Natalie Becker replaced Schoenfeldt on the mound and stopped the momentum for the Ragin' Cajuns with only one run scored by getting Fernandez to ground out to second base. She struggled in the 6^th inning though and had two costly wild pitches and gave up two runs on no hits.

Winthrop didn't lack scoring opportunities, but were only able to manage one run and left eight runners on base. One of the best chances came in the top of the first after Schoenfeldt's single as Eberlin and Schoenfeldt moved over to second and third with one out after a wild pitch. However, Jordan Wallace was able to strike out Melanie Andrea and get Alex White to line out to left. The Eagles left two more stranded in the second inning after back-to-back walks issued to Jenna Harbin and Megan Chapman, but Wallace struck out Corn to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, White led off with a walk and was replaced on the bases by Paige Hartfield, who was thrown out at second on a sacrifice attempt from Kelly Blea. After another force out at second on a fielder's choice, Harbin singled to left to put Kristy Noble in scoring position. Chapman fouled out to left to end the threat.

Schoenfeldt suffered the loss in the circle as she allowed four runs on 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 4.2 innings. She also got the RBI single to give the Eagles their only run of the game, her 11th RBI of the season.
 
The Eagles will look to regain momentum as they head to Woodstock, GA for the Buzz Classic next weekend, Mar. 2-4. Winthrop will open up on Friday, March 2 at 5 pm vs. 20^th-ranked Georgia Tech.