Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC --  Cody Dolan's two-run homerun blast in the sixth lifted the Eagles to a 5-3 win over Davidson Tuesday night at Wilson Field.
 
A three-run sixth inning highlighted by Dolan's second homerun of the season propelled Winthrop past Davidson for the second time this season.  After manufacturing a run in the second then losing the lead on a pair of solo homers by the Wildcats in the third, the Eagles took command in the sixth.  With a runner on and one out, Dolan launched a 2-0 pitch over the left field fence to give the Eagles back the lead.  Later in the inning designated hitter Stephen Wallace roped a two-out double down the left field line bringing Matt Lobacz around from second to score and take a 4-2 lead.  The Winthrop bullpen took control from there as Josh Strong (2-0) went four innings allowing just one run on one hit while closer Eric Ruth collected his seventh save of the season with a scoreless eighth and ninth to give the Eagles the 5-3 victory.
 
Tuesday night's win over Davidson snaps a three game skid for the Eagles and improves their record to 13-25 on the season while the Wildcats' second straight loss drops them to 10-25.  Winthrop hops back in action Wednesday night as the Eagles welcome the Charlotte 49ers (22-14) to The Winthrop Ballpark for a 6:00 p.m. ballgame.
 
Scoreless after one inning, Lobacz drew a walk to lead off the second and was moved up 90 feet on Clay Altman's single to left field.  With runners on first and second and no outs Chad Smith laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Lobacz and Altman up a base.  With one out now in the inning Wallace hit a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Lobacz to tag and come home to take the 1-0 lead.  The lead did not last long as back-to-back, solo shots from Michael Zeblo and Ryan Lowe off Eagles' starter Steven Howell put the Wildcats on top 2-1.
 
The Eagles recaptured the lead in the sixth when the Winthrop offensive lit up reliever Jip Richards (0-2) for three runs on four hits.  With a runner on and one out in the inning, Dolan took advantage of a 2-0 pitch and blasted it over the left field wall to reclaim the lead.  Keeping the inning going, Lobacz then drew his second walk of the game and was moved up to second on Smith's opposite field hit through the right side.  Wallace followed with a two-out RBI double down the left field line, scoring Lobacz for the second time in the game and giving Winthrop a 4-2 lead.
 
Davidson got a run back in the bottom half of the sixth on the Wildcats' third solo homerun of the game.  Andrew Barna drew the count full on Strong before launching the one-out homer over the center field fence bringing Davidson within one run.
 
However, that would be as close as the Wildcats would get as Winthrop tallied an insurance run in the ninth on Leighton Daniels' third hit of the game scoring Wallace from third to take the 5-3.  Ruth pitched a hitless eighth and ninth to slam the door shut and wrap up the 5-3 win for the Eagles.
 
Strong improved his record to 2-0 on the season as he allowed just one run in four innings of relief, which is the longest outing of his collegiate career.  Ruth's seven saves this season are the most by a Winthrop pitcher since 2009 (Tyler Mizenko – 14).  Ruth has allowed just one run this season in 25.2 innings of relief.  At the plate, Daniels' three-hit performance extends his hitting streak to eight games.  During the eight game stretch Daniels is 18 for 37 (.486) with six RBI's and eight runs scored. 
 
The expected pitching matchup for Wednesday's game against Charlotte is:
 
LHP Sam Kmiec (1-5)       vs.          LHP Micah Wells (0-2)
 
Wednesday's game can be followed on the Winthrop Sports Network via www.winthropeagles.com.  The ticket window at The Winthrop Ballpark will open an hour before the start of the game.