ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop softball is set to host a three-game series with Coastal Carolina this weekend that will begin with a single-game on Friday at 6:30 p.m. that will air live on ESPNU.
 
GAME SNAPSHOT
Winthrop (12-25, 2-6 BSC) vs. Coastal Carolina (22-18, 5-4 BSC)
Site: Rock Hill, SC (Terry Field)
Game 1: Friday, Apr. 8, 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 2: Saturday, Apr. 9, 1 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, Apr. 9, 3 p.m. (approx.)
Live Stats: Game 1 / Game 2 / Game 3

SERIES HISTORY VERSUS COASTAL CAROLINA
Winthrop and Coastal Carolina have met 104 times as the Chanticleers lead the series 56-48. Coastal has won the last seven meetings. Winthrop last won in the 2013 Big South Conference Tournament when it eliminated Coastal and advanced to the championship game with a 4-3 victory. The Eagles haven't won a series against the Chanticleers since 2009 when they swept them on the road. In the 23 games since that sweep, Winthrop is just 5-18 against Coastal.
 
A GLANCE AT THE EAGLES
The Eagles are coming off a competitive series at Longwood last weekend and have enjoyed their first week free of any midweek competition since late February. Over the last 10 games the Eagles are 2-8 but the numbers have improved. Of the eight losses, six were by three runs or less and three by one run. During the last 10 games the team has an ERA of 3.91 in 62.2 innings. Swinging the hottest bat for the Eagles is freshman Morgan Lowers, who leads the team with a .322 average and is batting .441 over the last 10 games. She's also riding an 11-game hitting streak, which is the longest of the season by an Winthrop player and since Maddie Antone had an 11-game streak in 2015. No Eagle has hit in 12 straight games since Chelsey Schoenfeldt hit safely in 16 straight in 2011. Senior Zharne Glover is also hitting well in the last 10 games with a .345 average in that span and a team-best five RBI. Junior Paige Haley is 3-for-11 in her career against Coastal Carolina and has three stolen bases (5 games). She's batting .275 on the year and has the second most runs with 19. The Eagles are looking to end a six-game losing streak.
 
A GLANCE AT THE CHANTICLEERS
The Chanticleers have won three straight and 7-of-8 and are looking for their seventh straight series win over the Eagles. Coastal is coming off a doubleheader sweep of the College of Charleston on Wednesday and a 2-1 series win at Radford last weekend. In that eight-game stretch the Chanticleers have outscored opponents 65-20. Coastal has the top hitting team in the league at .324 and the most home runs with 58, which are 23 more than any other program in the league. Morgan Noad leads the team with 16 home runs as she became the Big South's all-time leading home run hitter in the doubleheader against CofC on Wednesday. Taty Forbes leads the team in batting at .445 with 38 runs and 14 stolen bases while Noad is second in batting at .398 and leads the team with 49 RBI.
 
COASTAL CAROLINA PLAYERS TO WATCH
HITTERS
Morgan Noad, Sr., C (.398, 31 runs, 16 HR, 49 RBI, .493 on-base percentage)
Taty Forbes, Fr. OF (.445, 38 runs, 14 stolen bases)
Kelsey Dominik, Sr., P/1B (.308, 22 runs, 8 doubles, 14 HR, 37 RBI)
PITCHERS
Kelsey Dominik, Sr., RHP (14-9, 3.61 ERA, 116 SO, 59 BB, 155.0 IP)
Ashley Guillette, Fr. (6-6, 4.67 ERA, 93 SO, 54 BB, 69.0 IP)
   
HEAVY ROAD SLATE FOR EAGLES IN CONFERENCE PLAY
The Eagles opened its Big South Conference schedule on the road, which is where it will spend the majority of its time against league competition this season. Winthrop has a total of 24 league games scheduled and 15 of those will be played away from Terry Field. Already having played at Liberty, the Eagles will also travel to PC, Longwood, Campbell and Gardner-Webb for league series. The Eagles will finish the regular season with its final seven games on the road against league opponents.
 
WHAT'S ON DECK FOR THE EAGLES?
Winthrop will step away from Big South action on Tuesday, Apr. 12 when it heads to Greenville, SC for a doubleheader at Furman starting at 4 p.m. Then the Eagles will be back in Rock Hill for their final home games of the season with a three-game series against Charleston Southern.
  
WINTHROP HOSTING BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT
The Winthrop Softball Complex and Terry Field will be the site of the 2016 Big South Conference Softball Championship May 11-14. It will be the 14^th time the tournament will be hosted by Winthrop and first time since 2013. Ticket sales will be located at the Terry Softball Complex main entrance and will be $20 for an All Session pass ($15 for Youth/Senior/Student with I.D.), $10 All Day pass ($7 for Youth/Senior/Student with I.D.), and the championship game will be $5 for adults, $3 for Youth/Senior or students with an I.D. For more information contact Larry McLaine, ticket manager, at (803) 323-2345 or mclainel@winthrop.edu.