Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
ROCK HILL, SC— After eight days off, the Winthrop softball team was ready to play as it turned in a 1-0 victory in game one and tried to rally in game two before falling 6-4 in a doubleheader with Charlotte, Tuesday evening at Terry Field.

Winthrop fell to 16-34 on the year as it wrapped up its 2012 home schedule. Charlotte is now 27-13 on the year.

Game one saw two impressive performances in the circle by Natalie Becker and Lexi Betancourt.

After five and a half scoreless innings, Winthrop finally broke through. Becker reached with a one-out single to right center to try and help her own cause. Becker was replaced at first by pinch-runner Paige Hartfield, who moved over to third on a double by Megan Chapman. Chapman laced a ball down the right field line that right fielder Hayley Lewis tried to dive for the ball but it was out of her reach. The hit rolled over the right field line and out of play into the visiting bullpen as Chapman was running to third so she was called back to second. McKenzi Corn stepped in and hit a high fly ball to deep center, allowing Hartfield to tag up and score from third.

Charlotte had a good chance to take the first lead of the game in the top of the third when Alex Rogers drew a lead-off walk. After being sacrificed to second, Becker got Charlotte's RBI leader Briana Gwaltney to ground out to short for the second out. Samantha Slade ripped a single to left but McKenzi Corn was on it quickly and tossed a laser to home plate to hold Rogers at third but the throw allowed Slade to advance to second. With two runners in scoring position, Becker forced Kalie Lang into a ground out to third to end the threat.

In the top of the seventh, Charlotte did threaten as Jackie Kleinsmith reached on an error. She was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Stamey. Becker hit the next batter to put runners at first and second with one out. Becker forced another ground ball that was bobbled by Chapman at short, but she was able to make a throw to second to get the force out and put runners at the corners with two outs. Becker got Alex Rogers to ground out to Chapman to end the game.

Becker earned the win and improved to 10-13 on the year as she allowed no runs on two hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Betancourt was also impressive in the circle for the 49ers as she allowed one run on three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts as she falls to 14-12 on the season.

In the nightcap, Winthrop led early, but Charlotte used the long ball to earn the victory.

Winthrop didn't go down without a fight as it trailed 6-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh. White led off with a double to left and that was followed up by a soft liner down the left field line that Teja Durante turned into a double with her speed, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs.

Chapman stepped up and delivered as her soft floater to center dropped right before Rogers and Lewis collided trying to make the play. Both players were down as Chapman was able to advance to second, Durante held at third and White came home to score. Corn then came through with a single to left center, scoring Durante to make it 6-4 with no outs.

The 49ers made a pitching change and it paid off as Lisikatos came into the circle from third base. Lisikatos got Noble to ground out and then Chapman tried to score on a grounder to third but was thrown out at the plate. The game ended on a solid shot to first that was scooped up by Lang for the final out.

Winthrop snagged an early 2-0 lead in the third inning as Kristy Noble and Chelsey Schoenfeldt delivered with RBI singles. Durante led-off with a walk and moved to second on a single to right by Chapman. Two batters later, Noble ripped a single to center, scoring Durante from second while she moved to second on the throw and Chapman held at third. Schoenfeldt stepped in and had just enough power on a grounder to get out of the reach Charlotte first baseman Jessie Fennell and made its way into right field, scoring Chapman from third base.

The lead didn't last long as Charlotte came out swinging in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Fennell drew a walk and that was followed by a two-run home run by Chelsea Ingersoll over the left field fence to tie the game.

The 49ers took the lead in the fifth inning as Lang looked like she had a two-run home run but the ball hit the top of the fence in center and bounced back into the glove of Durante, who was able to get the ball in to hold Lang at second. The hit allowed Slade to score as she reached earlier on a single and moved to second on fielder's interference call on the play.

Winthrop ran into more trouble in the sixth inning when Ingersoll led off with a walk and then reached on a fielder's choice. Schoenfeldt, who relieved Allen, struck out Rogers before giving up a three-run home run to Vela to left center. That gave Charlotte a 6-2 lead.

The Eagles threatened to take an early lead as they put runners in scoring position in the bottom of the second. Chelsey Schoenfeldt led off as she singled with a hard hit grounder off the glove of Charlotte pitcher Katie Watkins. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Kelly Blea and Charlotte's Chelsea Lisikatos tried to get Schoenfeldt at second but the throw was late and both runners were safe. Watkins was able to get Taylor Wright to ground out to third, which led to Schoenfeldt getting out at third. Watkins struck out Jenna Harbin for the second out. Alex White stepped in with a chance to drive in a run and hit the ball well to left field, but Slade was there to make the catch for the third out.

The third inning was a good opportunity for Charlotte to take the lead as it put runners at second and third with no outs. Lewis led off with a single to shallow center and then Rogers hit a grounder to third that was misplayed by Alex White and both runners were safe. Lewis and Rogers then advanced to second and third on a passed ball. However, sophomore Sara Allen stayed strong in the pitching circle and worked herself out of the jam as she struck out Lorena Vela looking and then got back-to-back groundouts to end the inning.

Allen started game two, but didn't factor into the decision as she tossed four innings allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Schoenfeldt suffered the loss and is now 5-19 on the year as she tossed three innings of relief allowing four runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

On the day, Chapman had three hits while Schoenfeldt recorded two.

Winthrop heads to Conway, SC this weekend for a three-game series that starts Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and will then play its final regular season game on Sunday at 1 p.m.