ROCK HILL, SC --  The Winthrop baseball team opens up Big South Conference play with Presbyterian College in a three game weekend series at The Winthrop Ballpark.
 
To avoid inclement weather that is due to come through the area, Friday's game has been moved up to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday's game has been moved to 2:00 p.m.  The revised schedule for the weekend series against Presbyterian College at The Winthrop Ballpark is as follows:
 
Friday                    3/22       4:00 p.m.
Saturday              3/23       2:00 p.m.
Sunday                 3/24       1:00 p.m.
 
The Eagles are looking to build off Wednesday night's 3-2 win over East Tennessee State.  The Eagles capitalized off back-to-back RBI doubles by freshman Michael Patrick and junior Luke Maldonado to take a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.  The Buccaneers battled back in the next inning to tie the game, however Winthrop scored what proved the winning run in the seventh on an RBI single by Cody Dolan scoring Patrick from second giving the Eagles a 3-2 lead.  The bullpen took control from there as Josh Strong (1-0) shut down the Buccaneer offense and collected his first career collegiate win while Eric Ruth hammered down the victory for the Eagles grabbing his third save of the season.
 
Winthrop (6-14) now looks ahead to the Big South Conference opener against the Presbyterian College Blue Hose (13-9).  \The Eagles are 7-2 all-time against Presbyterian College.  The last time the teams met was in 2011 when Winthrop traveled to Clinton, SC for a weekend series and took two out of three games.  PC is 3-0 in the Big South so far this season with a three game sweep over High Point early this year.
 
Much PC's success can be credited to solid starting pitching.  Beau Dees (3-1), Bud Jeter (2-1), and Chandler Knox (2-1) have provide strong starts on the mound while Tim Corbin (0.00 ERA), Michael Trebendis (0.87 ERA), and Michael Ricchi (2.70 ERA) have been lights out from the bullpen.  As a staff, the Blue Hose maintain a 3.39 ERA while holding opposing offenses to a .240 batting average.
 
PC is led at the plate by Aaron Preston (.355 avg.), Brandon Martin (.314 avg), and Brandon Paul (.305 avg).  As a team the Blue Hose are hitting .253 while averaging just over four runs per game.
 
Winthrop's pitching staff continues to provide the team with opportunities to win.  As a staff, Eagle pitchers have combined for a 3.62 ERA while limiting opposing offenses to a .260 batting average.  Matt Pierpont (1-3), Tyler Klitsch (1-3), Joey Strain (1-2), and Sam Kmiec (0-3) have provided the Eagles with solid starts while Eric Ruth, Mitchell Knox, Jared Keels, and Josh Strong continue to provide strong support out of the bullpen.
 
The Eagles are led offensively by Clay Altman (.359 avg), Cody Dolan (.343 avg.), and TJ Olesczuk (.333 avg.).  As a team Winthrop is hitting .228 while averaging just under three runs per game.   With injuries to key players in the lineup, many other players are receiving opportunities to contribute including junior infielder Luke Maldonado (.364 avg) who maintains the team's longest current hitting streak (four games).
 
The expected pitching matchups for the weekend are:
 
3/22       4:00 p.m.             RHP Matt Pierpont (1-3) vs. LHP Beau Dees (3-1)
3/23       2:00 p.m.             LHP Sam Kmiec (0-3) vs. RHP Chandler Knox (2-1)
3/24       1:00 p.m.             RHP Tyler Klitsch (1-3) vs. RHP Bud Jeter (2-1)
 
The ticket window at The Winthrop Ballpark will be opens an hour before game time.  The games can also be heard on the Winthrop Sports Network via www.winthropeagles.com.