Box Score ROCK HILL, SC—The Winthrop Eagles' baseball team dropped Game 2 of the Big South Series against Radford 15-8 Saturday afternoon at the Winthrop Ballpark.
With the loss, Winthrop is now 17-18 (5-6) on the season, while Radford is now to 10-25 (4-7).
Radford jumped to an early lead in the top of the 1st. The Highlanders' leadoff batter Chris Coia reached on an error from the second baseman, Brandon Fite. Winthrop's starting pitcher Zach Sightler then struck out the next batter for Radford. Coia stole second base and then eventually scored when Shan Johnsonbaugh singled to right field for the 1-0 lead.
The Highlanders' added another four runs on four hits and one Winthrop error extending to a 5-0 lead in the top of the 2nd.
Winthrop battled back in the bottom of the 2nd with five runs on five hits. Jace Whitley led the inning off with a single to left field. Roger Gonzalez followed with a single of his own. Babe Thomas was then walked to load the bases. Casey Parker doubled to right field scoring Whitley and Gonzalez. Kyle Edwards followed with a single to right field scoring Thomas. Tyler Asbill then reached on a fielder's choice scoring Parker to tie the game at 5-5.
The Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the 4th when Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Fite who had reached previously on a bunt. Whitley then singled to shortstop scoring Paulsen for a 7-5 lead who had previously singled to center field.
Winthrop added another run in the bottom of the 6th when Fite singled on a bunt scoring Parker who reached earlier on an error by the Highlanders' first baseman.
Radford cut in to the Eagles' lead with a sacrifice fly RBI in the top of the 6th.
The Highlanders continued to rally when they took the lead at 11-8 in the top of the 7th scoring five runs on five hits.
Radford added another run in the top of the 8th and three more in the top of the 9th for the 15-8 lead.
The Eagles were unable to overcome the deficit and the game ended in a 15-8 final.
Sightler was pulled in the top of the 2nd after pitching 1.2 innings allowing three earned runs. Sightler fanned two batters before his exit. He received no decision on the afternoon and is now 4-2 with a 4.12 ERA. Reliever Nate Pawelcyzk received the loss on the afternoon and is now 0-2 on the season.
Winthrop will conclude the weekend series against Radford when they play a decisive Game 3 Sunday, April 16 at Winthrop Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm.
For the latest information on the Winthrop Baseball team, follow @WinthropBasebal on Twitter or go to www.winthropeagles.com.
