Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 ASHEVILLE, NC—The Winthrop Eagles' baseball squad swept UNC Asheville in a twinbill on Saturday, winning 9-2 and 5-2 at Greenwood Field to clinch the Big South weekend series.
With the sweep, Winthrop is now 21-19 (8-6 BSC) on the season, while UNC Asheville falls to 13-27 (4-10 BSC). The two teams will close out the series at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
GAME 1 (9-2)
Despite falling behind early, Winthrop's bats were hot when the Eagles tallied 13 hits in a 9-2 victory over UNC Asheville in Game 1 of the doubleheader Saturday.
The Bulldogs struck first putting a run on the board in the bottom of the 1st.
Winthrop responded in the top of the 2nd when Kyle Edwards hit a sacrifice fly scoring Jace Whitley, who had reached previously in the inning on a single, tying the game at 1-1.
The Eagles added another two runs in the 3rd when Jace Whitley doubled to left center scoring Roger Gonzalez and Mark Lowrie who had both been walked.
After being hit by a pitch in the top of the 4th, Brandon Fite was sent home on an Anthony Paulsen single to center field.
UNC Asheville responded with a solo homer from J. Woods to cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the 4th.
Gonzalez hit a solo shot for his fourth long ball on the season in the top of the 7th.
Winthrop continued to pile on the runs when they added two more in both the top of the 8th and the 9th for a 9-2 lead. The bullpen and defense held firm for the 9-2 win.
Starting pitcher Sam Kmiec earned the victory in this game pitching 6.0 innings while only allowing two earned runs and compiled three strikeouts. Kmiec is now 5-4 on the season.
GAME 2 (5-2)
Just like in Game 1, the Bulldogs struck first when Pete Guy homered to center field in the bottom of the 1st for the 1-0 lead.
The Eagles rallied back in the top of the 3rd. Fite began the rally with a single to left field. Paulsen followed with a single to right field. Lowrie then hit a sacrifice fly to score Fite. Gonzalez and Whitley hit back to back doubles to grab the 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 5th Guy hit his second homer of the game for UNC Asheville.
Winthrop added another run when Tyler Asbill hit a hard hit single up the middle scoring Thomas who was previously walked in the top of the 6th.
Despite loading the bases for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the 9th, the Eagles held strong for a 5-2 victory.
Starting pitcher Zach Sightler was credited with the win on the afternoon. Sightler pitched 5.0 innings while only allowing two earned runs and struck out two along the way. He is now 5-2 on the year. Zach Cook earned the save.
For the latest information on the Winthrop Baseball team, follow @WinthropBasebal on Twitter or go to www.winthropeagles.com.
