ROCK HILL, SC -- The Winthrop baseball team is set to host Wofford Tuesday evening in a non-conference mid-week matchup at The Winthrop Ballpark.
Winthrop is coming off a doubleheader split with conference rival Gardner-Webb last Saturday at The Winthrop Ballpark. A five-run second inning for the Runnin' Bulldogs was the story of Game One in Saturday's twin bill. Although the Eagles battled back with a pair of runs in the third and fifth innings, the Gardner-Webb bullpen proved to be too much as it went on to shut down Winthrop's offense and close out the game en route to a 7-4 victory.
The Eagles regrouped and answered back in Game Two 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.
Winthrop received an offensive outburst from senior catcher
Austen Barber who combined for six hits, four runs scored, and an RBI on day. Outfielder Cody Dolan's consistency at the plate continued over the weekend as he extended his reached-base streak to 11 games. Additionally, Patrick's four RBI's in Game Two are the most from a Winthrop hitter this season.
At the mid-point in the season Winthrop looks to improve its 9-19 record against Wofford (13-16) Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. The Eagles are 16-6 all-time against Wofford. The last time the programs met was in 2001 when the teams split the season series with Winthrop winning 11-0 in Rock Hill and then falling to Wofford in Spartanburg 4-3 later in the season. The Terriers are currently on a two game skid with back to back losses to Appalachian State over the weekend.
Offensively for the Terriers, Josh Hyman has punished opposing pitching with a .405 batting average, a .640 slugging percentage, and 45 hits including 16 extra-base hits and 23 RBI's. Wofford's James Plaisted (.359 batting avg.) and Seth Neely (.324 batting average) have provided the Terriers with strong offensive support as well. As a squad, Wofford is hitting at a .274 clip and averaging 5.5 runs per game.
Winthrop hopes to continue its hot trend at the plate. In Saturday's doubleheader the Eagles combined for 17 hits including five extra-base hits. The Eagles are looking to improve on their .226 team batting average and three runs per game this year.
Austen Barber has come on strong at the plate with a .600 batting average including nine hits and two RBI in the last five games. Out of the bullpen, Senior
Eric Ruth continues to dominate in the closing role as he is five for five in save opportunities while holding hitters to a .062 average with runners on base. Ruth has only given up one earned run this season in 16.1 innings of work while striking out 25 and walking nine.
The Eagles will send freshman right-hander Joey Strain (2-3) to the mound for his eight start of the season while the Terriers counter with sophomore righty Tanner Hawley (0-0). Hawley, who have been heavily utilized out of the bullpen this year, will be making his fourth start of the season.
The ticket window at The Winthrop Ballpark will open an hour before the game. The game can also be heard on the Winthrop Sports Network via www.winthropeagles.com.
