Box Score Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC – Matt Pierpont pitched his first career complete game shutout and Winthrop benefitted from three Rider errors as it picked up a 4-0 series-opening win on Friday evening at The Winthrop Ballpark.
The Eagles improve to 4-15 on the season, while the Broncs fall to 5-10 overall.
Pierpont (2-3) allowed just five Rider hitters to reach base in the contest on four hits and one walk, while striking out six. Mike Murphy (1-2) took the loss surrendering four runs (one earned) on seven hits, three walks and four strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.
It was the first time Winthrop has held an opponent scoreless since defeating The Citadel 9-0 on Apr. 6, 2011 in Rock Hill, while Pierpont is the first Eagle pitcher since
Matteo D'Angelo against Presbyterian College on May 1, 2010 to pitch a complete game shutout. D'Angelo allowed just three hits in his appearance, while walking one and striking out six. Winthrop picked up a 4-0 victory over the Blue Hose in that contest.
The Eagles had scoring opportunities in the first and second innings against Rider, but Murphy was able to get out of both jams holding Winthrop scoreless. The Eagles had a runner on third base with one out in the first, and the bases loaded with no outs in the second.
Winthrop would then take advantage of the three Broncs errors in the third inning by plating three runs to take a 3-0 lead.
Matt Lobacz's RBI sacrifice fly with no outs produced the first run of the inning as
Jason Driver, who led off the inning with a single, scored from third base.
Max Vogel then drove in
Chas Crane two batters later on his RBI single to right field, and
Justin Hopper would score also on the play as the throw by Rider right fielder Jerry Mulderig got past catcher Eric Strano and rolled into the Broncs dugout.
The Eagles added to their lead at 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth as
Patrick Gamblin came home on
TJ Olesczuk's single to right field. Gamblin advanced to third on the single, but then scored as Mulderig had trouble fielding the ball in right field.
Olesczuk finished the game with a team-high two hits for Winthrop, while Lobacz and Vogel had one RBI each. Adam Wayman led the Rider offense with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
The Eagles will continue their series against the Broncs on Saturday, Mar. 17 with game two at 3 p.m.
