Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC -- The Eagles' bats came alive as they pounded out eleven hits in a 6-5 victory over the Charlotte 49ers at Hayes Stadium Tuesday night.
 
Winthrop capitalized on a big three-run fifth inning as RBI's from Jace Whitley, Matt Lobocz, and Chad Smith gave the Eagles a 5-4 lead through five innings.  Charlotte battled back and tied the game up in the six but Smith's one-out RBI single in the seventh put Winthrop back on top for good as reliever Steven Howell came in and hammered down the 6-5 victory for the Eagles.
 
The win breaks a three-game losing skid for the Eagles and improves their record to 11-22 on the season while Charlotte falls to 19-13.  Winthrop hops back into action on Wednesday as the Furman Paladins travel to Rock Hill for a 6:00 p.m. ballgame at The Winthrop Ballpark.
 
Following the recent trend, the Eagles got on the board early with a run in the first.  Leadoff hitter Leighton Daniels started things off with an infield single and was moved around to third on a single down the right field line from designated hitter Jace Whitley.  During the next at-bat, 49ers starting pitcher Corey Roberts threw a pitch in the dirt that got away from the catcher allowing Daniels to race home giving Winthrop an early 1-0 lead.
 
The lead did last long as Charlotte jumped on starting pitcher Zach Sightler for three runs in the bottom of the first.  RBI hits from Brad Elwood, Brett Lang, and Grant Dunnegan put the 49ers on top 3-1 after one inning of play.  The 49ers extended their lead in the second when Nick Daddio drew a walk off Sightler and eventually came around to score on a double from Shane Basen giving Charlotte a 4-1 lead.
 
The Eagles took advantage of a couple fielding miscues by the 49er defense in the third to chip away at the 4-1 lead.  Daniels led off the inning with a single up the middle and was brought around to third base when Lobacz reached on a fielding error by the first baseman.  On the first pitch of the next at-bat, Lobacz took off for second on a steal attempt and in an effort to throw him out, the catcher overthrew the ball to second base allowing Daniels to score from third and cut the lead to 4-2.
 
Whitley got things rolling for the Eagles in the pivotal fifth inning with a single up the middle scoring Michael Patrick who had singled earlier in the inning.  After a hit-by-pitch issued to Cody Dolan, Lobacz poked a single through the right side scoring Whitley from second.  With the game tied 4-4 and runners on first and third, Smith came to the plate laid down a bunt down the right foul line squeezing Dolan in from third and giving the Eagles a one run lead.
 
Charlotte answer right back in the sixth when Tony Montalbano drove a base hit to left field off of reliever Josh Strong scoring Justin Roland from third and tying the game at 5-5. 
 
Winthrop got their first two hitters aboard in the seventh as Whitley led off with a single to center field and Dolan was hit by a pitch.  Smith stepped to the plate with one out and roped an 0-2 pitch to center field driving in Whitley from second to take the 6-5 lead. 
 
With the one run lead, Howell came and shut down the 49ers offensive to collect his first career win and secure the 6-5 victory for the Eagles. 
 
Winthrop head coach Tom Riginos has been pleased with the offense's approach at the plate as of late.  “I feel the offense is starting to come around,” stated Riginos after Tuesday night's game.  “You see things changing.  I tell the guys that you have to keep on grinding and good things are going to happen.”
 
Daniels and Whitley each chalked up three hits and a pair of runs scored on the evening while Lobacz and Smith each contributed a pair of hits as well.  In the past five games Smith has driven in nine runs while Daniels is hitting .600 with nine hits and five runs scored over the last three games.
 
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.