ROCK HILL, SC— The Winthrop softball team split on the opening day of the Winthrop/adidas Invitational with a 10-2 win over Delaware State and a 12-3 loss to #24 Georgia, Friday afternoon at Terry Field.

Winthrop falls to 8-11 on the year while Georgia is 14-7 and Delaware State is now 1-9.

One of the main highlights on the day for the Eagles came in the third inning against Georgia as senior Chelsey Schoenfeldt hit a three-run home run down the right field line for her 150^th career hit. The home run made cut the Georgia lead in half at 6-3.

“We finally made adjustments in the first game and our offense exploded,” said Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke. “Georgia's such a good ball club. We fought and battled all day long. I'm happy to have such a competitive and scrappy group of girls. Sutton threw well and it seemed like every mistake she made pitching they (Georgia) hit out of the park.”

The Bulldogs, which hit seven home runs in its game prior to the Eagles, hit three off Winthrop starting pitcher Sutton Watson. Watson suffered the loss and falls to 6-6 on the year as she allowed 12 runs (11 earned) on 10 hits with four walks and four strikeouts in six innings of work.

Georgia's Geri Ann Glasco tossed a complete game for the win as she allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and eight strikeouts to improve to 8-1 on the year.

A seven-run sixth inning propelled the Eagles to victory in the first game of the day against Delaware State.

Winthrop trailed 2-0 after three innings, but the offense woke up in the fifth inning and posted 10 runs over the 5^th and 6^th innings.

The rally started in the third as freshman Haley Zuehlke connected on her first collegiate home run with a shot left center. Mel Andrea then drew a pinch-hit walk and scored as senior Teja Durante drove her first career home run over the fence in center for a 3-2 lead after five innings.

Winthrop ended the game on the 8-run rule in the sixth as Zuehlke was at it again, this time with a two-run single to center to finish the game with a career-high three RBI. Zuehkle's single came after Alex White delivered a pinch-hit RBI single. The game ended on a two-run single by Schoenfeldt after McKenzi Corn had made it 8-2 with an RBI double down the right field line.

Freshman Dallas King improved to 2-1 on the season as she tossed a complete game of six innings allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts.

Delaware State's Jennifer Fischbach suffered the loss in the pitching circle allowing three runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout in 2.1 innings of relief.

Sophomore Kristy Noble was 3-for-6 on the day as she broke out of a batting slump of 2-for-25 as she also had two runs and an RBI. Schoenfeldt finished with five RBI on the day and is now just one shy of 100 for her career and is now tied for 9^th all-time in school history. She is also riding a five-game hit streak.

Winthrop will be back in action on Saturday as it faces Kent State at 3 p.m. and then North Carolina A&T at 5 p.m.