ROCK HILL, SC— Jesse Burleson and
Ansley Gilreath each had two RBI to lead Winthrop softball to a 6-3 win over Charleston Southern, in the Big South Conference opener for both teams Friday evening.
GAME INFORMATION
RECORDS: Winthrop (10-9, 1-0 Big South), Charleston Southern (16-11, 0-1 Big South)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Ansley Gilreath (2-for-2, 2RBI),
Blake Wallert (2-for-4, 2R),
Jesse Burleson (1-for-3, HR, 2RBI)
COACHES QUOTE
Head Coach Mark Cooke~
"The difference in the game tonight was Kiley (Majette) was able to minimize the damage. I'll take credit for the homerun, I called a bad pitch. But what I like is we battled. We got ahead, they came back and tied it and then we answered right back. It was a complete game, our kids played well. It was a good way to start the conference season."
WHAT HAPPENED
- Eagles struck first with three runs in the bottom of the first
- Winthrop loaded the bases as Ansley Gilreath came through with a two-run single to center and Tori Walker added a sacrifice fly
- The Buccaneers got one back in the third inning as Sarah Brown came through with an RBI single to left with the bases loaded
- Mallory Kasinger tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth as she hit a two-run home run to right center
- Winthrop responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth
- Blake Wallert led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and over to third on a wild pitch
- Kiley Majette stepped in and helped her own cause with a go-ahead RBI single to center
- Two batters later Jesse Burleson picked a good time for her first collegiate hit as she hammered a shot to left for a two-run home run and a 6-3 lead
- The Bucs threatened and had the tying run to the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh but Majette got the strikeout to end the game
- Majette improved to 6-4 on the year after allowing three runs on eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts
- Arizona Pilgrim took the loss as she threw 6.0 innings allowing six runs on 11 hits with a walk and six strikeouts and is now 6-5 on the year
EXTRA BASES
- The Eagles finished with a season-high 11 hits and stranded a total of six runners
- Ashley Westbrooks also had two hits in the game (2-for-3) as well as a walk and a run scored
- Morgan Lowers went 1-for-4 with a run as she extended her hitting streak to six games while Westbrooks has now hit safely in four straight
- This is the fourth straight season the Eagles have won their Big South home opener
ON DECK
The two teams will be back at it on Saturday, Mar. 17 for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
