Alabama State Box Score
UNC Greensboro Box Score

WOODSTOCK, GA—Behind strong pitching and defense the Winthrop softball team defeated Alabama State 9-1 and UNC Greensboro 2-0 on the final day of the Buzz Classic to push its win streak to three games.

The Eagles have won their last three games and improved their record to 8-9 this weekend. The Alabama State dropped to 2-13 and the UNC Greensboro dropped to 5-11 on the year.

“Things that we have been working on have come together,” said Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke. “We are working as a team and doing the things we need to do to win. We are coming home with an 8-9 record and have faced some of the top teams in the country. I couldn't be more pleased.”

The Eagles bats came alive in their first game of the day against Alabama State. Megan Chapman started the game with a double to center field. Mckenzi Corn followed her with a bunt for a hit single that allowed to Chapman to score on the throw to first base. Kathryn Eberlin then reached on a fielder's choice and Corn advanced to third base. Eberlin stole second base and she and Corn were able to score on a double by Chelsey Schoenfeldt. With one out and Schoenfeldt on third base, sophomore Alex White hit her first collegiate home run over the left field fence to give the Eagles a five run lead going into the bottom of the first inning.

“We did a great job of hitting the ball and scoring runs throughout the entire game,” Cooke noted. “The five runs in the first inning was a huge help for Chelsey on the mound and she pitched a great ball game.”

Schoenfeldt dominated the Hornets offense as she threw all five innings of the game and only gave up one run on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
 
Schoenfeldt got more support from her offense in the top of the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth inning, the Eagles recorded two more runs off a second home run from White. In the fifth inning, with two outs and no one on base, sophomore Corn hit her first collegiate home run over the right field fence. Her home run would be the final run of the game.

The Eagles offense put runs on the scoreboard in four out of five innings in the game. They scored nine runs on 10 hits. White had two hits and four RBI, Corn had two hits and three RBI, Schoenfeldt had two hits and two RBI while Chapman had three hits and scored two runs.

The second game for the Eagles against UNC Greensboro was a battle but they got the hits and runs needed to win.
Both teams were scoreless until the fourth inning. Eberlin came to the plate with two outs and hit her second home run of the year over the center field fence to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles added another insurance run in the fifth inning. White started the inning with an infield single, her third hit of the day. She was replaced on the bases by Paige Hartfield. Hartfield advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kristy Noble. She scored the Eagles' second run of the game on a single up the middle from Kelly Blea.

Eagle pitcher Natalie Becker held the Spartans to just one hit in the game in the Eagles 2-0 shutout over the Spartans. She pitched seven innings, had six strikeouts and only issued one walk.

“Eberlin's monster home run over the 215 foot fence into 20 mph wind and Becker's pitching performance were outstanding,” said Cooke. “We played a great ball game. This was an excellent win for us.”

The Eagles look to continue their winning streak this weekend in their first home games of the season. Their first game of the Winthrop/adidas Invitational will be on Friday, March 9^th at 12 pm vs. St. Johns. Winthrop will also face Bowling Green Friday at 2 p.m.