MONTGOMERY, AL—The Winthrop Eagles baseball team dropped Game 1 of the weekend series 5-4 to the Alabama State Hornets Friday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
Winthrop gave up an early 3-0 lead to the Hornets in the 1st inning allowing three hits, one of which was a two run homer.
 
After Alabama State's bullpen loaded the bases in the top of the 7^th with three walks, the Eagles' Roger Gonzalez hit a two run RBI to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
The Hornets padded their lead with two hits in the bottom of the 7^th to make it 4-2.
 
In the top of the 8^th Winthrop once again cut into the deficit when Mitch Spires scored off of a Tyler Asbill single.  Babe Thomas singled the next at bat sending Matthew Mulkey home to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Alabama State reclaimed the lead at 5-4 in the bottom of the 8^thoff of two hits.
 
The Eagles failed to produce anything in the 9^th ending the game at a 5-4 final.
 
Winthrop's lefty Matt Crohan pitched seven innings giving up four runs off of seven hits.  He struck out eight batters. Gonzalez continued to stay hot at the plate going 3 for 5 on the night.  Spires was 2 for 4.
 
The Eagles, 4-2, will play Game 2 of the series tomorrow, Feb. 27 beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex in Montgomery, Alabama.
 
For the latest information on the Winthrop Baseball team, follow @WinthropBasebal on Twitter or go to www.winthropeagles.com.