Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop scored first and early, but South Carolina's offense exploded as the Eagles fell 12-2 in five innings, Wednesday evening at Terry Field.
 
The Eagles fall to 11-21 on the season with the loss while the Gamecocks improve to 20-16 on the year.
 
Head Coach Mark Cooke said, “Give credit to South Carolina, they came in and hit the ball hard all night. We just couldn't get them out.”

The Eagles were the first to score as Chelsey Schoenfeldt drew a leadoff walk in the second inning to get things started. South Carolina's second baseman Dana Hawthorn made a diving play on a ground ball from Taylor Wright and dove to tag second just before Schoenfeldt arrived. Alex White hit a two out single to right field to advance Wright to second base, who then scored on a single down the left field line from Kristy Noble. The hit extended her hitting streak to eight games. Jenna Harbin came up next and drew a walk to load the bases for Teja Durante but Durante flied out to left field to end the threat from the Eagles.
 
The Gamecocks answered back and more in the top of the third inning with nine runs on six hits. The inning started with a leadoff walk to Samie Garcia. She then stole second and advanced to third on a single from Lauren Lackey. Lackey immediately stole second base putting runners on second and third for Evan Childs. Childs singled up the middle to score Garcia, advance Lackey to third and advanced to second herself on the throw home.
 
After the first run scored, Schoenfeldt was replaced in the circle. Natalie Becker came in to relieve her but was pulled after giving up a walk. Sara Allen came in next and gave up two hits, two runs and a walk before being replaced by Sutton Watson. Watson gave up one hit before forcing a pop up for the second out and got out of the inning on an awesome throw to the plate from Durante in center field to get Lackey trying to score.
 
The Eagles tried to get something going in the bottom of third inning but couldn't get the hit with runners in scoring position they needed to score. Mckenzi Corn led off the inning with an infield single to the shortstop. She was out at second on a ground ball to the shortstop hit by Kathryn Eberlin. Watson drew a two out walk to put runners on first and second base for Mel Andrea, who is second on the team in RBIs. Andrea hit a hard ground ball to third base to end the inning for the Eagles, stranding Eberlin and Watson. 
 
South Carolina wasn't done as it added three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Kaitlin Westfall started the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second after Hannah Milks reached on an error by Noble at second base. Chelsea Hawkins grounded out to third base to advance Westfall to third base and Milks to second base for the Gamecock pitcher, Kristin Struett. Struett hit her first career homerun over the left center field fence to put her team in the lead 12-1. 
 
Winthrop didn't go quietly in the bottom of the fifth inning and scored one run on one hit. Corn drew a one out walk to start the rally for the Eagles. Eberlin advanced her to second with a single up the middle. Schoenfeldt walked to load the bases for Wright. Wright hit a deep ball to left center that was caught to record a sacrifice fly as Corn tagged and crossed the plate. Andrea hit another hard ground ball to third base to end the inning and the game for the Eagles.
 
The Eagles will go on the road for a three-game series with Liberty starting with a doubleheader on Friday, March 30 at 4 p.m. followed by a single game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 in Lynchburg, VA.