ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop softball team extended its winning streak to eight games Sunday as the Eagles downed Marist 5-3 and Eastern Kentucky 5-1 on the final day of the Winthrop/Adidas Invitational.

Winthrop improves to 11-10 overall and its eight-game win streak is the program's longest since 2007.

"We got another two quality wins this weekend," head coach Mark Cooke said.  "We got good pitching and timely hitting and more importantly we are getting offensive production in all parts of our lineup."

Winthrop used a four-run fifth inning and allowed Marist only three runs on four hits to pick up the 5-3 victory in the first game of the day.

Sophomore Dallas King pitched the first three innings of the contest, allowing two runs on just one hit and struck out three.  Junior Sutton Watson pitched the final four innings and picked up her fifth victory of the season after allowing one run on three hits.

Marist scored one run in each of the first, third and fifth innings.  Winthrop got on the board in the bottom of the second as Kim Ryder singled home the run.

Winthrop's offense came up big in the bottom of the fifth.  With two on and none out, senior McKenzie Corn laced a double to left field, scoring Zharne Glover.  She was followed by Mel Andrea who singled to center, scoring Naomi Stevens and tying the game at 3-3.  The next batter, Kelsey Ritter hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring the go-ahead run.  Megan Winningham closed out the scoring in the fifth for the Eagles as she came on as a pinch hitter and singled through the left side, plating the fifth run for Winthrop.

After a scoreless sixth inning, Marist threatened, putting two on with no outs.  Sutton then struck out the next batter, forced a slow roller to third and then a fly out to left to end the game.

The Eagles had another solid pitching performance in the second game of the day against Eastern Kentucky.  Senior Sara Allen pitched all seven innings, picking up her third victory of the season as she scattered five hits and allowed only one run while striking out four.

Winthrop got on the board first in the bottom of the first, plating three runs.  Corn and Andrea continued their offensive production, getting back-to-back hits to drive in the first two runs for the Eagles.  Freshman Leah Young drove in the third run of the inning on a ground out.

Kelsey Ritter got another run on the board for the Eagles in the bottom of the third as she launched her first home run of the season to left field to put Winthrop up 4-0.  The Eagles manufactured another insurance run in the bottom of the fifth with three hits, but left two on base.

Allen was only two outs from recording the shutout but Eastern Kentucky's Sarah Fobbs homered to left center to push the final score to 5-1.

The Eagles look to continue their winning streak on Wednesday as they open conference play in a three-game series against Charleston Southern.  Winthrop and the Buccaneers will play a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday.