N. CHARLESTON, SC–Charleston Southern scored two runs in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie and held on for a 4-2 non-conference victory over Winthrop on Wednesday afternoon at CSU Ballpark.
 
Winthrop is now 7-10 while CSU improves to 10-4.  Even though the Buccaneers are Big South Conference members, the two scheduled games between CSU and Winthrop do not count as conference games due to this year's unbalanced BSC schedule.  The two teams will meet one more time in Rock Hill on April 5.
 
Winthrop scored two runs on seven hits and left seven on base.  CSU pitchers struck out 10 Eagles.  The Bucs scored their four runs on 10 hits and stranded 11 runners.
 
CSU scored single runs in the first and third innings off Winthrop starter Zach Peek, who pitched four innings and was not involved in the decision.  The Eagles tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the second on a RBI double by Scout McFalls down the right field line that scored Babe Thomas from second base. 
 
The Bucs took a 2-1 lead in the third before Winthrop came back in the fourth to knot the score at 2-2 on a RBI single by McFalls that drove home Thomas who had singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher.
 
Winthrop brought in Thad Harris (0-5) from the bullpen in the fifth inning.  He allowed two runs to suffer the loss.   CSU's lead-off hitter Brandon Gragilla struck out swinging but reach first on the wild pitch.  He scored what proved to be the winning run on two-out triple by Cole German.  German came home on a single by Kyle Vesnesky.
 
CSU starting pitcher Tyler Weekley (2-0) earned the win as he hurled 5.1 innings and gave up both Eagle runs on six hits. Wil Hartsell and Eddie Hiott held the Eagles in check for 2.2 innings and Cody Smith came on to pitch the ninth and earn his fifth save.
 
The Eagles will travel to UNC Asheville this weekend to open Big South Conference action.  The games are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday.