GREENVILLE, SC— Winthrop softball dropped two hard fought games of a doubleheader but fell 7-6 in eight innings and 5-2 at Furman, Tuesday evening.

The losses drop the Eagles to 13-32 on the year while Furman evens its record to 22-22 overall. Winthrop will return to Terry Field for its final home games of the season when it hosts Charleston Southern for a three-game series starting Friday, Apr. 15 at 7 p.m.

"If we play like this the rest of the year we'll be in position for a lot of wins," said Winthrop co-head coach Mark Cooke. "We played really well today. You're never happy after losses but I felt good about the way we played. We're fighting and I like it. If we continue to play like this I'll be a lot happier."

For the second time on the day, Furman grabbed the lead in the first inning. After Kiley Majette retired the first two batters she gave up a single to Lindsey Bert. That was followed by an RBI double by Elise Smith and then an RBI single by Taylor Vahle.

Majette helped her own cause in the top of the fourth inning as she hit her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot to right center to tie the game at 2-2. However, Furman came right back to take the lead in the bottom half of the inning with three runs, all with two outs. Majette faced runners at second and third with two outs as she got Candace Johnson to ground to short. Haley Zuehlke and the base runner got in each other's way at short which allowed the go-ahead run to score and then Sieara Bishop doubled to right center, scoring two more runs for the 5-2 advantage.

Majette tossed a complete game allowing five runs (two earned) on eight hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Bert earned the win in the circle for Furman as she also tossed a complete game allowing two runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts.  

The first game of the doubleheader went to Furman in extra innings as Johnson provided a one-out walk-off double. Pinch-runner Collins was placed at second as the International tie-breaker was in effect. Chace Helms struck out the first batter before giving up the double to Johnson.

In the bottom of the seventh the Paladins tied the game with one out as Emma Ogburn got things going with a walk. Lauren Duggar pinch-ran for Ogburn at first and stole second to get into scoring position. Andrea Abbatiello stepped up and delivered a single to right, scoring Duggar. Paige Haley threw Abbatiello out at second as she attempted a steal to get into scoring position before Helms got the final out on a grounder to short.  

The Eagles rallied with a five-run fifth to take a 6-5 lead. Helms led off the inning by drawing a walk on a full count. Brooke Ellison laid down a bunt single to put runners at first and second with no outs. Pinch-hitter Tara Loken reached on a fielding error two batters later to load the bases. Megan Winningham plated the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center. Then Leah Young singled to right, scoring Ellison and putting runners at first and second. Zharne Glover stepped up and took a 0-1 pitch over the fence in left for a three-run shot and a 6-5 lead. It is the second home run of Glover's career.

Furman broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third as AnnaRose Borrelli walked on four pitches to lead off the inning. Then Hannah Reynolds singled through the left side, but the ball was misplayed by Morgan Lowers as her error allowed Reynolds to get to third and Borrelli to score from first. After Keleigh Romine got the first out on a pop up, Abbatiello took the first pitch over the fence in left center for a 4-1 lead. The Paladins added another run as Johnson's single up the middle off Chace Helms made it 5-1.

Winthrop trailed 1-0 after the first but responded immediately with perfect execution. After Glover walked to lead off the inning, Toni Pancione sacrificed her to second and Blake Wallert singled to center to score Glover from second. Walllert stole second to get into scoring position, but Romine struck out and Brooke Ellison grounded out to end the threat.

Helms took the loss despite a solid five innings of relief as she allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.