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Box Score

ROCK HILL, SC- Sam Kmiec held Asheville to just six hits and struck out eight in the Winthrop baseball team's 3-0 win over the Bulldogs on Friday night.

The Eagles improve to 25-14 on the year and 5-8 in the Big South while the Bulldogs drop to 16-22 and 2-10 in conference matchups.

Kmiec pitched 6 2/3 innings to earn his first conference win of the year and move to 4-4 overall. Travis Shelley allowed two hits in 2 1/3 inning before Joey Strain earned his sixth save of the year, striking out the final batter of the game. Asheville's Joe Zayatz took the loss, allowing three runs on nine hits in six innings.

Asheville looked to strike first in the fourth inning as Tommy Houmard tried to come home from first on a double by Justin Woods but Kyle Edwards was able to throw him out before reaching the plate to retire the side.

After being held to three hits in the first three innings, the Eagles broke open the game with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth. Jace Whitley came in to pinch hit for Roger Gonzalez and doubled to left center before crossing the plate on a double into the right field corner by Mark Lowrie.

Tyler Asbill tacked on one more insurance run in the fifth inning, scoring on a triple to centerfield by Mitch Spires after singling through the left side.

Asheville battled back to load the bases with two outs in the ninth inning but Joey Strain struck out Pete Guy to secure the victory.

Head coach Tom Riginos was proud of how his team approached this game despite uncertain weather and tough field conditions. "I think we had a business-like approach to the game tonight" says the skipper. "After sitting around while the field was getting prepared, it is hard to get back into focus but these guys came out ready to play."

The series continues with a double header on Saturday beginning at 2:00 p.m. with the second game beginning 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first.