Box Score Box Score www.winthropphotos.comROCK HILL, SC- A three-run fifth inning proved to be costly as the Winthrop baseball team dropped the opening game of its weekend series with Toledo 3-0. The Eagles move to 2-2 on the year while the Rockets improve to 1-3.
The game got off to a slow start as there were just two hits, both coming from the Eagles, heading into the fifth inning. In the top of the fifth inning the Rockets' Anthony Smith reached third base after hitting a double to left field and advancing on a wild pitch by
Sam Kmiec. Tyler Baar then walked and advanced to third on a RBI double by John Martillotta that scored Smith. Baar scored on a passed ball by
Roger Gonzalez and Martillotta went to third but was picked off by Gonzalez. Lucas Sokol and Nate Langhals followed with base hits. Sokol scored the third run of the inning for the Rockets on a RBI single by A.J. Montoya.
Kmiec, who struck out 11 Rockets in seven innings, suffered the loss to drop to 1-1 on the year as he allowed all three runs and gave up five hits.
Travis Shelley came on in relief and gave up two hits in the final two innings. Toledo starter Cameron Palmer earned the win for the Rockets by giving up two hits in 5.2 innings of work.
Winthrop and Toledo will play a twinbill on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. with the second game to begin approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
