LYNCHBURG, VA—Anthony Paulsen's three-run homer in the fifth inning helped Winthrop's baseball team blow the game open as the Eagles defeated Liberty 11-4 on Friday night at Liberty Baseball Stadium to clinch the Big South Conference series.  The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
Behind Paulsen, who went 5 for 6 and scored four runs to lead Winthrop's 14-hit night, Winthrop won its third straight game to improve to 19-16 and moves to 7-4 in the Big South and into a tie with the Flames, who fall to 20-13 overall.
 
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Paulsen singled with two outs and scored on a double by Mitch Spires. Winthrop put the game away with seven runs in the fifth to hand Liberty starter Garret Price his first loss of the season against three wins.
 
Winthrop added two more in the sixth to give right handed starter Nate Pawelczyk all the support he needed to notch the win and improve his record to 5-1.  Pawelczyk went seven innings and allowed four hits while striking out three Flames.
 
Paulsen's fifth HR of the season came with no outs and drove home Matthew Mulkey and Grant English who had walked and singled ahead of him.  Paulsen took over the team lead with the home run. 
 
Spires also had a good night at the plate as he went 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles.  He also walked one time. 
 
Winthrop took an 11-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but reliever Carson Gregory was touched up for three runs after giving up three hits, two walks and a hit batter.  Zach Peek came in to get the final out.