Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ROCK HILL, SC -- Winthrop bounced back from Game One's 7-4 loss with a 4-2 victory in the second game to split Saturday's doubleheader against Gardner-Webb at The Winthrop Ballpark.
 
A big five-run second inning for Gardner-Webb set the tone for Game One as the Runnin' Bulldogs took advantage of a pair of fielding miscues by the Eagles and banged out three hits including two big two-RBI knocks from JJ Nazzaro and Scott Coleman.  Winthrop battled back scoring a pair of runs in the third and in the fifth however, the Gardner-Webb bullpen did not allow them to come any closer as the Eagles were blanked in the final four innings of play en route to a 7-4 victory for the Bulldogs. 
 
Game Two was another story as strong pitching from freshman left-hander Sam Kmiec (1-3) and clutch hitting from freshman Michael Patrick powered the Eagles to a 4-2 win over Gardner-Webb.  Kmiec collected his first career collegiate win as he went eight strong innings giving up just two runs on four hits and fanning five.  Patrick drove in all four runs for the Eagles with a pair of doubles to the left field corner.  Austen Barber notably banged out a career high four hits in the game and also scored a pair of runs.  Chad Smith had a solid game at the plate as well with a three-hit performance including a pair of runs scored.
 
Saturday's split bumps Winthrop's record to 9-19 on the 2013 season and 2-4 in the Big South.  Gardner-Webb moves to 15-12-1 on the season with a 4-5 record in the conference.  The Eagles return to action Tuesday night when Wofford travels to Rock Hill for a 6:00 p.m. ballgame at The Winthrop Ballpark.
 
Gardner-Webb jumped in the driver seat of Game One when they hit up starter Tyler Klitsch (1-5) for a big five-run second inning.  However, the Eagles started to battle back in the third.  Barber got things going with a double to left field and moved over to third when Tyler Asbill reached on an error by the shortstop.  Jace Whitley then drove the first pitch he saw to right field for a single scoring Barber from third and advancing Asbill to second.  Both runners were then moved up a base on a wild pitch from Gardner-Webb starter Andrew Barnett.  Winthrop managed to add one more run in the inning on a sacrifice fly ball by Cody Dolan to deep left field scoring Asbill from third and cutting the deficit to 5-2.
 
Winthrop cut into the lead further in the fifth when Kyle Edwards led the inning off with a triple down the right-field line and was brought in to score on Barber's second double of the game.  Barber moved up to third on a wild pitch as came around to score on Whitley's second RBI single of the game chopping the lead to 5-4.
 
However, a combination of Mitch Warner (1-0) and Justin Gullickson (1) out of the Runnin' Bulldog's bullpen managed to halt Winthrop's comeback while the Gardner-Webb offense tacked on solo runs in the eighth and ninth to secure the 7-4 victory.
 
In Game Two, Winthrop received strong performances on both sides of the ball.  Trailing 1-0 in the second inning, Smith and Barber strung together a pair of singles and were both waved around to score on a 0-2 double down the left field line by Patrick giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead.  The Eagles repeated themselves in the fourth with Smith and Barber reaching on a pair of singles and Patrick clearing the bases with a two-run double down the left field line upping the lead to 4-1.  Gardner-Webb managed to plate a run in the fifth however, Kmiec and the Eagles defense were took much as Winthrop went on to win 4-2.  Kmiec collected his first win of the season while senior closer Eric Ruth hammered down his fifth save.
 
Winthrop head coach Tom Riginos was pleased with his team's effort on Saturday.  “These guys just aren't giving up.  No matter what our record is, they just continue to battle,” commented Riginos after the doubleheader.
 
The defense came on strong for the Eagles on Saturday as six double plays were turned in the two games.  Offensively, Barber combined for six hits, four runs scored, and an RBI on day.  Outfielder Cody Dolan continues to make his way aboard as he extended his reached-base streak to 11 games.  Patrick's four RBI's in Game Two are the most from a Winthrop hitter all season.