FARMVILLE, VA— Winthrop tied a program conference tournament record for runs in a single-game as it defeated second-seeded Campbell 13-5, Saturday afternoon in the Big South Conference Championship.
Winthrop is now 27-30 overall and is now win away from the championship game. The Eagles will play approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Liberty and Longwood contest as the Eagles will get the loser of that game.
"I'm really proud of the girls for falling behind 4-1 early and bouncing back," said Winthrop co-head coach. "They've been enjoying themselves, they've played hard. After we got Kiley (Majette) settled back down she went out there and did a great job. We're just playing so loose and getting clutch hits from everyone."
Majette tossed five innings allowing three runs on four hits with seven walks and six strikeouts to even her record to 16-16 on the year.
Winthrop jumped on the Camels first as
Paige Haley led off the game with a single, moved to second on an illegal pitch and then was sacrificed to third. Haley scored on another illegal pitch call for the 1-0 lead.
Campbell struck for four runs in the bottom of the first, which was split in half by a long rain delay. Before the rain the Camels put up three runs with the first coming on an Amber Schisler home run to right. After a double and a walk, Tullar doubled for a 2-1 lead and then Katie Baker's sac fly made it 3-1. After the rain delay the fourth run came across on a fielder's choice.
Winthrop got back in the game in the second inning as
Ansley Gilreath scored on a wild pitch to get it started. The Eagles then loaded the bases, but
Maddie Antone grounded to second and
Brooke Ellison was out at home on the force out. That brought up
Ashley Westbrooks, who doubled to right center as
Paige Haley and
Keleigh Romine scored on the play. The Eagles then took a 5-4 lead as Antone scored on an illegal pitch and Westbrooks moved over to third on the play. A wild pitch allowed Westbrooks to score and make it a 6-4 lead. Campbell got one back in the bottom of the second to make it a one-run game.
In the fourth inning the Eagles had their second five-run inning to take an 11-5 lead. It began with Antone walking to leadoff the inning and then Westbrooks doubled off the wall in left as Antone scored from first. Lowers singled followed by Young getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gilreath came through with a single through the left side, scoring two runs for a 9-5 advantage. The Eagles scored two more runs on wild pitches. At this point the game was halted by rain and the remainder of the game was pushed to Saturday morning.
Lowers added even more insurance in the top of the seventh as she took the first pitch over the fence in right for her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot for a 13-5 lead.
Westbrooks set a Winthrop single-season record for RBI in the win over the Camels as she now has 35, passing Tessa Thomas' record of 33 set in 2006. She finished the game with a career-high four hits. Lowers and Haley each extended their hitting streak to five games while Haley has now reached base in 14 straight.
