Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC --  Coastal Carolina edged out the Winthrop baseball team 4-3 Sunday afternoon at The Winthrop Ballpark to complete the Big South series sweep.
 
The Eagles started out strong building a 2-0 lead through four innings, however, the Chanticleer offense was able to get to Winthrop starter Tyler Klitsch (1-7) in the fifth as they plated three runs highlighted by Ted Blackman's two-run home run over the right field fence giving Coastal a 3-2 lead.  The Chanticleers added an insurance run in the sixth on Blackman's third RBI of the game to up the lead to 4-2.  Winthrop threatened in the eighth as Clay Altman drove a single through the left side scoring Cody Dolan from second but Coastal Carolina closer Ryan Connolly ended the comeback leaving the bases loaded in eighth and retiring the side in the ninth to collect his ninth save of the season and lock up the 4-3 win.
 
The second straight Big South series sweep issued to Winthrop drops its season record to 12-25 and 2-10 in the conference.  The Chanticleer's ninth straight win improves their record to 24-12 including 10-2 in the Big South.  Winthrop looks to get back on track against the Wildcats when the Eagles travel to Davidson, NC for a 6:00 p.m. non-conference game on Tuesday.  Winthrop topped Davidson 8-4 in Rock Hill earlier this season.
 
Leighton Daniels started things out right for the Eagles as he drove the first pitch of the game to the right-center gap for a double.  Daniels advanced to third on Jace Whitley's sacrifice bunt and was brought around to score on an RBI single from Dolan to take the early 1-0 lead.  Winthrop added to its lead in the third with a two-out, RBI single to left field from Matt Lobacz scoring Whitley from third and giving the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
 
After four innings of shutout baseball, the Chanticleers managed to reach Klitsch in the top of the fifth for three runs on three hits to take a 3-2 lead.  Nick Oberg led off the inning with a single to right field and was brought around to score on Blackman's second home run of the series tying the game at 2-2.  Jake Kane followed with a walk and was brought around to third after a wild pitch and sacrifice bunt.  With one out in the inning, Will Remillard flew out to deep left field, allowing Kane to come in and score to take a 3-2 lead.  Coastal then added an insurance run in the sixth on Blackman's sacrifice fly to left field scoring Colin Hering from third to take a 4-2 lead.
 
The Eagles battled back in the eighth as Dolan came around to score on Altman's one-out RBI single to left field but the rally was cut short as Chanticleer closer Ryan Connolly stranded the bases loaded in the eighth and closed out the game in the ninth to collect the five-out save (9) and assure the 4-3 victory for Coastal Carolina. 
Winthrop head coach Tom Riginos was pleased with the team's effort in Sunday's loss to Coastal.  “They came out and competed hard and gave us a chance to win.  A hit here or a hit there and this is a different ballgame,” stated Riginos.  “I thought our approach at the plate was a lot better.  Our top four or five hitters are really starting to come around right now.  We just need someone to get that big hit to drive in that extra run.”
 
Despite just the three runs, Winthrop hitters banged out 13 hits on the day, however, nine runners were left on base.  Daniels, Dolan, and Chad Smith all scratched out a pair of hits on the day while Lobacz went three for four including a two-out RBI single in the third.  Daniels' two-hit game extends his hitting streak to seven games.  Klitsch took the loss on the mound for the Eagles after going 5.1 innings and giving up four runs on nine hits while whiffing four.  Senior reliever Eric Ruth got the call in the sixth and worked 3.2 innings of scoreless relief allowing three hits while striking out three.