ROCK HILL, SC -- The Winthrop baseball team looks to get things turned around as the Eagles host East Tennessee State Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at The Winthrop Ballpark.
 
Winthrop, coming off a three-game sweep issued by Rhode Island last weekend, is looking to break back into win column and continue its success against the Buccaneers.  The Eagles are 6-0 all-time against ETSU (5-0 at home) including a 2-1 victory last week in Johnson City, TN.
 
When the two teams met last Tuesday, freshman right-hander Joey Strain (1-2) collected his first career collegiate win in his best start of the season holding the Buccaneers to only one run on eight hits while striking out three over five innings.  Strain received strong support out of the bullpen as Steven Howell, Josh Strong, Jared Keels, and Eric Ruth combined in the final four innings to hammer down the 2-1 victory for the Eagles.
 
Since the team last met, ETSU is 3-1 including two wins over conference rival USC Update last weekend.  Rock Hill is the final stop for the Buccaneers on their current five game road trip.
 
The Buccaneers continue to light up the scoreboard this season with five players hitting over .300 while averaging over seven runs and almost 11 hits per game and holding a .307 batting average as a team.  Clinton Freeman leads the team with an impressive .445 batting average including 18 extra base hits and 21 RBI's.  Jeremy Taylor was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week last week for his strong offensive performance in Spartanburg where he went 11 for 24 (.458 avg) with three doubles, eight runs scored, and five RBIs.
 
On the mound for the Bucs, Clinton Freeman (4-0), Kerry Doane (3-1), and Griffin Krieg (2-0) have led have led the staff that maintains a 4.38 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .274 average.
 
The Eagles have been a little banged up lately with key injuries to Key injuries to Cody Dolan (hand), Matt Lobacz (wrist), TJ Olesczuk (back), Leighton Daniels (hamstring), and Clay Altman (shoulder) causing them to miss time.  With many key players missing time, the Eagles have gotten significant contributions from some of the younger position players including sophomore Jace Whitley and freshmen Nick Bateman, Kyle Edwards, and Stephen Wallace.  “You are seeing a lot of young guys out there and they are developing,” stated head coach Tom Riginos after Sunday's game against Rhode Island.
 
Altman (.377 avg.), Dolan (.348 avg.), and Olesczuk (.333) continue to lead the Eagles at the dish.  Winthrop is looking to improve offensively from a team perspective as the Eagles are swinging the bat at a .228 clip while averaging 2.9 runs per game. 
 
Despite the team's offensive woes, the pitching staff continues to keep the team in the ballgame.  As a staff, the Eagles' wings have combined for a 3.70 ERA while limiting opposing offenses to a .264 batting average.  Matt Pierpont (1-3), Tyler Klitsch (1-3), Joey Strain (1-2), and Sam Kmiec (0-3) have provided the Eagles with strong starts while Eric Ruth, Mitchell Knox, Jared Keels, and Josh Strong have been dominant out of the bullpen.
 
A pair of freshmen are expect to square off on the mound on Wednesday with a matchup of right hander Joey Strain (1-2) vs. lefty Josh Jacques (0-2).
 
The ticket window at The Winthrop Ballpark will be opens an hour before game time.  The game can also be heard on the Winthrop Sports Network via www.winthropeagles.com.