ROCK HILL, SC—The Winthrop Eagles' baseball squad downed the Liberty Flames 11-2 Friday night at the Winthrop Ballpark.
With the win, Winthrop is now 14-12 (2-2) on the season, while Liberty falls to 16-12 (3-1).
Winthrop got on the scoreboard early when catcher Roger Gonzalez led the bottom of 2nd off with a double to right center field. Gonzalez was later sent home on a Mark Lowrie to left center field. Lowrie advanced home for the 2-0 lead when Jace Whitley hit a double of his own to left center.
Winthrop's Tyler Asbill singled to center field in the 3rdinning. Anthony Paulsen singled to score Asbill extending the Eagles lead to 3-0.
Lowrie reached on a throwing error from Liberty's third baseman and was later sent home on a Babe Thomas single up the middle for a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th.
The Eagles tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the 5th on two walks, one hit, and a throwing error from the Flames.
Winthrop continued to pile on the runs when they added five more in the bottom of the 6th. Grant English was walked followed by Asbill being hit by a pitch. The runners advanced on two consecutive wild pitches; with English scoring. Brandon Fite then singled scoring Asbill. Paulsen followed with a single of his own to center field. Mitch Spires connected for his first homerun on the season, further extending the Eagles' lead to 11-0.
Liberty finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the 7thwhen Eric Grabowski hit a two run homer cutting the deficit to 11-2.
The Flames rallied for another three runs in the top of the 9th but could not get over the deficit as the game ended in an 11-5 final.
Left hander Sam Kmiec picked up the victory, going a strong eight innings, giving up just four hits and striking out nine. Kmiec is now 4-3 on the season.
Game 2 will be held Saturday at the Winthrop Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 pm.
For the latest information on the Winthrop Baseball team, follow @WinthropBasebal on Twitter or go to www.winthropeagles.com.
