Box Score Conway, SC- Michael Patrick scored the go ahead run on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth and Sam Kmiec pitched eight-plus innings of one-run baseball to give Winthrop a 2-1 victory over Coastal Carolina in the series opener Friday night at Pelicans Park.

With the win, the Eagles improve to 10-12 on the year and move to 3-1 in conference play while the Chanticleers drop to 10-11 and 1-3 in conference match-ups.

Kmiec, a sophomore southpaw, pitched 8.1 innings to earn the win, while giving up one run on seven hits before Josh Strong came in to get the save with no runs and no hits. Chas Adkins was tagged with the loss for the Chants, giving up both runs on six hits.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth when Leighton Daniels scored on a sacrifice fly by John Menken.

The Chants tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with their lone run of the game when Connor Owings, who had singled, came home on a RBI double by Zach Remillard.

Winthrop let one opportunity to score in the ninth slip away when Menken, who had tripled, was cut down at home plate on a fielders choice ground ball by Clay Altman. Patrick, who came in to pinch run for Altman, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a single by Kyle Edwards, and then scored when Adkins unleashed the wild pitch..

The second game of the series is set for Saturday at 3:00 p.m.