Box Score Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

ROCK HILL, SC- The Winthrop baseball team dropped two games to High Point on Friday, falling 6-2 before suffering a 17-2 defeat.

The Eagles fall to 19-12 on the year and 2-6 in the Big South while the Panthers improve to 16-13 and 6-2 in conference play. 

Winthrop resumed Thursday night's game that had been suspended in the bottom of the seventh inning due to inclement weather with High Point on top 6-1.

Sam Kmiec took the loss in the first game, moving to 3-3 while allowing six runs on six hits and registering seven strikeouts. John McGillicuddy earned the win, giving up one run on six hits. Relievers Freddie Sultan and Michael Green held the Eagles to just three hits in the final three innings.

Winthrop was able to get one run back in the bottom of the ninth. Anthony Paulsen walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Paulsen came home on back to back singles by Mark Lowrie and Brad Kaczka before Jace Whitley grounded into a double play to end the game.

The Eagles finished the final two and a half innings scoring one run on five hits.

Game 2
Winthrop struggled offensively in the second game, combining for just five hits. 

Babe Thomas went 1-2 with 2 RBI.

Josh Strong moved to 3-3 this season while surrendering six runs on seven hits in five innings. Six more Winthrop pitchers saw action, allowing 11 runs on nine hits. High Point's Cas Silber took the win, holding the Eagles to just two hits in five innings.

Thomas rocketed a home run to left field in the bottom of the ninth, scoring Paulsen who had walked for the Eagles only runs of the night.

The Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Carson Jackson led off the inning doubling into the left field corner. Jackson then advanced to third on a throwing error by Roger Gonzalez and scored on a single through the left side by Chris Clare.

Tony Fortier-Bensen pushed the advantage to 2-0, scoring on a double by Hunter Lee after walking and advancing to second on a wild pitch.

High Point batted around and capitalized on three Winthrop errors to tack on 11 runs on eight hits in the sixth inning.

The Panthers added four more runs in the eighth inning, including a solo home run to left field by Breden Rivera. The final runs were scored with the bases loaded on a walk by Fortier-Bensen and back to back singles by Josh Spano and Spencer Angelis.

The Eagles conclude the series with High Point on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at The Winthrop Ballpark.