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ROCK HILL, SC- The Winthrop baseball team used a 28-hit attack led by senior John Menken to down Asheville 13-4 and 8-5 in Saturday's double header.

The Eagles extend their winning streak to four while improving to 27-14 overall and 7-8 in the Big South. The Bulldogs drop to 16-24 on the year and 3-12 in conference action.

Menken went 4-6 on the day, with two home runs, one of them a grand slam.

Game 1
Box Score

Matt Crohan earned the win, pitching the first five innings and giving up three runs on six hits. Freddie Sultan threw the final three innings for his first career save and held the Bulldogs hitless. Lucas Clarke surrendered five runs on one hit for the loss.

The Bulldogs jumped to a 2-0 lead after an inning and a half but the Eagles rallied to score six runs in the bottom of the second. Mark Lowrie and Menken led off the inning with back to back walks and the Eagles loaded the bases as Babe Thomas reached on fielder's choice and Menken was ruled safe on a throwing error by the second baseman. All three runners scored on a double to left center field by Brad Kaczka. Kaczka advanced to third on a wild pitch before Jace Whitley walked and stole second. Kaczka crossed the plate on a ground out by Kyle Edwards that moved Whitley to third followed by a single by Tyler Asbill that knocked home Whitley. Asbill then stole second, advanced to third on a ground out by Mitch Spires and scored on a single up the middle by Anthony Paulsen.

Asheville got one run back as Joe Tietjen crossed the plate on a single by Pete Guy after tripling in the top of the fourth.

In the bottom half of the inning, Menken made it 7-3 with a solo home run over the right center field fence.

Both teams each scored runs in the sixth inning to bring the score to 8-4 before Winthrop scored five in the seventh with four coming off a grand slam to left field by Menken.

Game 2
Box Score

Josh Strong earned the win, allowing three runs on nine hits in seven innings. Joey Strain got his seventh save of the year, coming in to relieve Travis Shelley and allowing no hits in the ninth inning. Jordan Fulbright took the loss, giving up six runs on nine hits.

The Bulldogs struck first scoring three runs in the third inning. With two outs, Erik Connolly singled through the left side and stole second. Tommy Houmard drove home Connolly on a double before crossing the plate himself on a home run to left center by Hunter Bryant.

Winthrop answered right back with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Asbill led off reaching on an uncaught third strike and advanced to second on a walk by Spires. Back to back singles by Paulsen and Menken scored Asbill and loaded the bases before Lowrie grounded out to bring home Spires and move the runners. Roger Gonzalez knocked home Paulsen on a single to right center and Menken was thrown out trying to come home on the play.

The Eagles took the lead with three runs in the fourth inning. Edwards reached on a throwing error by the third baseman and went to third on a double by Asbill. Edwards crossed the plate on a single by Spires and before a wild pitch scored Asbill from third and moved Spires to second. Spires came home on a sacrifice fly by Menken after advancing to third on a ground out by Paulsen.  

Brad Kaczka pushed the advantage to 7-3 in the fifth, scoring from third on a sacrifice fly by Edwards.

The Eagles tacked on one more run in the sixth as Spires crossed the plate on a double by Paulsen after being hit by a pitch.

Asheville got two runs back in the final two innings, including a solo home run by Tanner Bush in the ninth.

Winthrop hits the road to take on the Wildcats of Davidson on Tuesday before returning home for a mid-week match-up with East Tennessee State on Wednesday.