ASHEVILLE, NC– The Winthrop baseball team scored one run,  but that proved to be enough for freshman right hander Colton Rendon, as he allowed one hit and struck out five over eight innings as the Eagles won their opening Big South Conference series with a 1-0 victory over UNC Asheville on Sunday at Greenwood Field..

The Eagles (9-11, 2-1 BSC) travel to Spartanburg on Wednesday, Mar. 22, to take on Wofford at 6 pm.

Rendon evened his record at 2-2 as he had his best performance as an Eagle. Redshirt sophomore Dalton Whitaker pitched the ninth to earn his second save and preserved Winthrop's second shutout of the season with both coming this weekend against UNC Asheville (8-10, 1-2 BSC).  Spencer Orr started for Asheville on the mound and was not involved in the decision as he pitched five innings, while allowing three hits and striking out eight Eagles. Bulldog reliever Nick Boyles (0-2) suffered the loss as he allowed the one unearned run in his only inning of work.   

Winthrop was led at the plate by freshman Scout McFalls, who went 2 for 5 with one RBI and two singles, junior Mitch Spires, who was1 for 2 with two walks and a single, and sophomore Matthew Mulkey, who scored the winning run.

The Eagles scored in the top of the seventh when Mulkey drew a walk to lead off the inning. He advanced to second on a passed ball, and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by redshirt sophomore Jake Sullivan. Mulkey scored on a single to left by McFalls.

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