ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop baseball (24-27, 15-10 Big South Conference) posted its fourth shutout win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Liberty (27-24, 15-10 Big South Conference) Thursday evening to open a three-game series at The Winthrop Ballpark.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Nate Pawelczyk threw seven pitches, all strikes, to start off strong for the Eagles in the 1st inning.

-Tyler Halstead led off the 2^nd with a single and advanced as far as third, but no runs scored.

-The Flames went down in order in the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd.

-Scout McFalls got things going in the 3^rd with a double to right center, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mitch Spires walked, then stole second, his team-high 11^th stolen base of the season. Spires would advance to third on an error by Liberty as McFalls stole home for the Eagles' first score of the night. Halstead's second hit of the night, a single to left, scored Spires for a 2-0 lead for the Eagles.

-Liberty juiced the bases with one out in the top of the 4^th on back-to-back walks, but Pawelczyk got out of the jam with two-consecutive fly outs.

-Jason Crumley came in to pitch to start the 5^th inning and sat down the Flames in order.

-Winthrop went three up, three down in the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th.

-The Eagles held off the Flames in the top of the 8^th with runners on 2^nd and 3^rd to maintain the 2-0 lead.

-McFalls led off the 8^th with a drag bunt to get a single, his second hit of the night.

-Dalton Whitaker took the mound to start the 9^th. A walk and a single put the tying run on first and the go-ahead run at the plate for Liberty, but Whitaker recorded the final out on a strike out looking to secure the win.
 
NOTABLES
-The win was the fourth shutout victory of the season for the Eagles.

-Tyler Halstead has posted two or more hits in three of the past five games. Tonight marked his 13^th multiple hit game of the season, second-highest on the squad.

-Starter Nate Pawelczyk allowed just one hit in 4.0 innings of work  

-Jason Crumley took the mound for 4.0 innings of middle relief, recording four strikeouts.

-Dalton Whitaker recorded his fifth save of the season, holding off Liberty with the go-ahead run at the plate in the 9^th.

-Senior Mitch Spires has reached base in a team-high 23-consecutive games.

UP NEXT
Winthrop and Liberty will face off in game two of the series on Fri., May 18 with first pitch set for 7 p.m. at The Winthrop Ballpark. Winthrop athletics will be celebrating our local firefighters, with free admission for members of local fire departments and group admission rate ($2) for their families.