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ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop fell 3-1 and allowed five runs in the final two innings in an 8-6 loss in eight innings to Coastal Carolina in a doubleheader defeat, Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference softball action.

Heading into the game, just two wins separated the two teams in the league standings but the Eagles dropped both games to fall to 20-21 overall and 8-7 in the league while Coastal Carolina is now 25-17 overall and 12-4 in the Big South.

It looked as if the two teams were going to split the doubleheader until fielding errors cost the Eagles a three-run lead in the top of the seventh and eventually lost the game in extra innings. After a leadoff walk was issued at the top of the seventh by Chelsey Schoenfeldt, Sutton Watson was put in to close out the game. Watson hit the first batter she faced, but was able to get Morgan Noad to fly out to center, but Desiree Zaragoza moved to third to put runners at the corners. Watson then hit Jessie Winans to load the bases. Watson got the result she wanted as she got Bri Chiusano to ground out back to the pitcher, but Watson's throw home for the force out was in the dirt and found its way all the way to the backstop. That allowed Zaragoza to score and Sara Rasley to come around to score from second on the play. That cut the score to 6-5. After getting Kiana Quolas to foul out, Watson got another ground ball but Haley Zuehkle at short didn't field it cleanly and Kory Hayden was safe at first and Winans scored to tie the game.

Noad provided the winnings runs with her ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot to right center in the eighth inning on a 1-1 pitch and two away.
After dropping the first game of the doubleheader, Winthrop looked to be in good position for its ninth league win as it led 6-3 after six innings. The Eagles fell behind 2-0 before their offense got going with five runs in the third. With one out in the third, Zuehkle reached on an error followed by a single by Teja Durante for runners at first and second. Kristy Noble stepped up and took the first pitch over the center field fence for a 3-2 lead. Winthrop loaded the bases and Sara Allen drew a walk on a full count to drive in a run and later Melanie Andrea provided an RBI single for the 5-2 lead.

Coastal Carolina inched its way back in the top of the sixth inning as Chiusano doubled down the left field line to lead off. She moved to second on a ground out and then scored on a Hayden single to third base. Winthrop answered right back with another run in the bottom of the sixth as Kathryn Eberlin picked up an RBI with a ground out to third base, scoring pinch-runner Zharne Glover.

Schoenfeldt started the game in the pitching circle as she allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts in six innings but didn't factor in the decision. Watson, who suffered the loss in the first game of the day, took the loss again as she allowed four runs (two earned) on one hit with a walk and no strikeouts in 1.2 innings as she is now 12-11 on the year.

Ashley Bagwell got a no decision after allowing five runs (two earned) on eight hits with a walk and three stirkeouts. Quolas, who nabbed the win in the first game of the day, earned the win in 4.2 innings of relief as she allowed a run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts and is now 14-8 on the year.

In the first game of the day, Quolas kept the Eagles in check as she tossed a complete game three hitter allowing an unearned run with no walks and five strikeouts.

The Chanticleers scored in the top of the second for the early lead. Cacia Pierre led off with a single and was replaced by Noad as a pinch-runner. Jazmin Daigle then doubled to left center and moved to third as McKenzi Corn got a quick throw in to Alex White, who then threw a strike home to get Noad at the plate. Brooke Donovan came through for Coastal Carolina on the next play with a soft single to left, scoring Dailge.

The third inning saw Coastal Carolina take a 3-0 as the first run came courtesy of a passed ball and then Quolas helped her own cause with an RBI double down the left field line.

Winthrop's only run of the game came in the fifth when Zuehlke led off the inning with a single down the left field line for the team's first hit. With one out, Brooke Tracy put down a sacrifice bunt that was played perfectly by the Chanticleers but Zuehlke pushed past second base and noticed nobody covering third and headed toward the third base bag. Daigle made a throw to third base that got past the base into foul territory. Zuehlke, who had slid into third, was able to bounce up and sprint home for the run.

The Eagles had a good opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as Corn was hit to start things off followed by Schoenfelt drawing a walk. However, Schoenfeldt was called out after not having been reported as re-entering the game. That was the first out and put Corn back at first base instead of having a chance to move the runners to second and third with just one away.

On the day, Chiusano had four hits and two runs while Hayden had two hits and four RBI to lead Coastal Carolina.

Teja Durante, Noble and Zuehlke all recorded two hits on the day as Noble drove in three of the team's seven runs on the day. While Schoenfeldt's streak of consecutive games on base ended at 16, Corn extended hers to 18 games.