MT. PLEASANT, SC— Winthrop used a four-run sixth inning to capture a 5-2 victory over Eastern Kentucky, Friday afternoon on the first day of the Cougar Classic.

The win improves the Eagles to 2-4 on the year while EKU is now 0-1. Winthrop will be back in action Saturday morning when it takes on Illinois-Chicago at 9 a.m. and Monmouth at 11 a.m.

With the Eagles trailing 2-1 in the sixth, Paige Haley tied the game at 2-2 on an RBI fielder's choice. Her grounder drove in pinch-runner Madison Templeton from third. After Shayna Covington walked, Antone stepped in and drove the first pitch over the fence in right center for a 5-2 lead.

"We were flat at the beginning and not quite focused but we battled and regrouped," said Winthrop co-head coach Mark Cooke. "They did a good job at changing pitchers on us in key situations but next thing you know Maddie hits one out. I was pleased with how we settled down after the first inning. Eastern Kentucky is a quality ball club and we're pretty excited about beating them."

Majette allowed two runs in the first inning and four hits over the first three innings but got stronger as the game went on and earned her first win of the season and is now 1-3. She allowed the two runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

The Eagles fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first as the first three batters reached base to load the bases. Majette got the next batter to line out to first base before giving up a single to left for a 1-0 lead for EKU. The next batter hit a sac fly to right field for the 2-0 lead.

In the second and third inning the Eagles left the bases loaded as they were unable to get on the scoreboard. In the fourth inning A.G. Gardner singled with two outs and eventually came around to score after a couple of fielding errors by EKU. There were runners at second and third with one out but Covington fouled out and Antone grounded to second on a 3-2 pitch.

EKU's Alex Sallbert started the game, but didn't factor in the decision after allowing no runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts in four innings. Ashton Martin took the loss as she allowed three runs on two hits with two walks in 0.1 innings.

Antone finished the game with two hits and three RBI while Morgan Lowers and Gardner had two hits each as well. Ashley Westbrooks was 1-for-2 as she now has a hit in each of her first six collegiate games.