Box Score Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC- The Winthrop baseball team batted around twice and scored a school record-breaking 14 runs in the second inning to defeat Gardner-Webb 17-7 on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles improve to 15-7 overall, 1-1 in conference play while the Bulldogs drop to 13-10 on the year and 3-2 in the Big South. The two teams will play the rubber game on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.   

Winthrop's 14 runs were the most scored in a single inning in program history. The Eagles recorded a season-high 19 hits, led by shortstop Kyle Edwards who hit .500 on the day with three RBI and scored two runs.

Freshman Freddie Sultan earned the first win of his career, holding the Bulldogs to just three hits in 4.1 innings after relieving starter Zach Sightler who gave up four runs on eight hits in 2.2 innings. Austin Lawrence came in to close in the seventh inning and allowed three runs on three hits. GWU's Tyler Best put the Bulldogs up 1-0 in the first inning, scoring from third on a double by Sam Fulginiti, but that would be the last time the Bulldogs would lead in this game.

Winthrop banged out 11 hits to score its 14 runs in the second inning. With one out, Roger Gonzalez walked and advanced to third on a single by Jace Whitley. Brad Kaczka and Mitch Spires then hit back to back singles to score Gonzalez and Whitley before Edwards bunted to bring Kaczka home from third. Tyler Asbill walked to load the bases, and Spires was ruled safe at home as Babe Thomas reached on fielder's choice. Anthony Paulsen doubled to drive home Edwards and Asbill and move Thomas to third. Mark Lowrie and Gonzalez had back-to-back singles to score Thomas and Paulsen before Whitley walked to reload the bases.

Lowrie crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Kaczka that advanced the runners and Gonzalez scored his second run of the inning as Spires hit an infield single. Edwards drove home two more runs on a double to right centerfield and scored as Asbill singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher. Asbill closed out the scoring for the inning, crossing the plate on a single up the middle by Thomas before Paulsen grounded out to end the inning.

The Bulldogs came back to score three runs in the third inning on four straight singles and a passed ball by Gonzalez.

Thomas tripled down the right field line to score two more runs in the sixth inning before scoring on a single up the middle by Paulsen to make the score 17-4.

After being held to just three hits in five innings, Gardner-Webb rallied to score three runs, including a two-run home run by Jacob Walker, in the top of the ninth but the Eagles held on for the victory.