Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC-- Winthrop dropped the first two games of a three-game series with Charleston Southern 1-0 and 4-2 on Saturday at Terry Field.
 
The Eagles extend their losing streak to nine games with the losses today and fall to 11-19 on the season and 0-2 in the league. The Buccaneers improve to 17-13 on the year and 2-0 in conference play.
 
The Bucs missed an opportunity for an early lead as Kristin Kelleher and Jessica Brock singled back-to-back. Jana Matthews moved pinch-runner Lizzy Olmstead over to third with a fielder's choice, but Chelsey Schoenfeldt worked her way out of the jam as Stephanie Sbardella flied out to right to end the inning.
 
After the two hour rain delay, the Eagles had scoring opportunities of their own in the bottom of the second and fourth innings. Schoenfeldt and Mel Andrea started the second inning with back-to-back singles but the Eagles were retired in order after that to end the inning without any runs scored. Schoenfeldt started the fourth inning with an infield single and Christine Dewitt drew a two out walk but Kelsey Ritter grounded out to end the threat.
 
The Eagles scored their first runs of the day off a big pinch hit two RBI homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning. Taylor Wright led off with a single to the gap in left field and with one out, Kristy Noble came in to pinch hit and hit a towering home run over the center field fence to make the score 2-0.
 
Charleston Southern did not go down without a fight and scored four runs on three hits to take the lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning. Sbardella ledoff the inning with a solo homerun to straight away center field to make the score 2-1, Eagles still in the lead. Schoenfeldt got the next two batters to ground out on two straight pitches but then was replaced by Natalie Becker after giving up a single and after the defense committed an error to put runners on first and second. Buccaneer shortstop Megan Lombard came through with a homerun to left center to put her team in the lead 4-2.
 
Head Coach Mark Cooke said after both games, “We haven't been hitting the ball like we were in the first half of the season and we need to make some adjustments. I also would have never expected our pitchers to give up two homeruns in the seventh inning but give all the credit to Charleston Southern for hitting the ball to score runs when they needed to.”  

Game one turned into a pitcher's duel after a rough start as Becker and Charleston Southern's Morgan Dowdy showed well in the circle.

Charleston Southern struck in the top of the first as Kelleher walked with one out and was replaced at first with pinch-runner Lizzy Olmstead. After Olmstead stole second, Jessica Brock delivered with a single through the left side to put runners at the corners.

Schoenfeldt forced Jana Matthews to hit a grounder, but the ball was mishandled at second before falling into the hands of shortstop Ritter on the bag at second for the force out. Olmstead came home on the play and Matthews reached on the fielder's choice. Sbardella ripped a double to right center to put runners at second and third and Cooke replaced Schoenfeldt in the circle with Becker, who got Hannah Wagner to line out to end the inning.

Winthrop tried to answer back in the bottom half of the inning, but left Teja Durante stranded at second after a one-out double.

In the bottom of the third, Winthrop had a chance to tie the game with two outs with runners on second and third. Ritter singled to second after beating the throw to first and McKenzi Corn followed with a walk. Durante's fly ball to right was deep enough to move the runners one base into scoring position for Alex White, but she hit a soft grounder to second on an 0-1 pitch to end the inning.

Winthrop had runners at second and third again in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, but pinch-hitter Carole Reda struck out swinging and then pinch-runner Paige Hartfield was picked off at third base to end the threat.

Becker was very impressive in relief of Schoenfeldt as she didn't allow a run or hit while striking out nine and walking just one in 6.1 innings. Schoenfeldt did suffer the loss as she fell to 5-9.

Dowdy won her 10th game of the season as she tossed her third shutout of the season allowing just four hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

Winthrop and Charleston Southern will wrap-up the series on Sunday with a single game at 2 p.m., which will be aired on ESPN3.