ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Winthrop Baseball team lost a thrilling game on opening night to the Toledo Rockets by a score of 5-4 at the Winthrop Ballpark. The game featured two lead changes in the game's final three innings and a combined 25 runners left on base between the two teams.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Starter
Zach Peek battled over his five innings on the mound but kept the Eagles in the game. His afternoon ended after five innings allowing four hits and two runs (one earned), striking out six and walking four.Â
- The Eagles scored twice in the sixth inning off of an RBI single by
Spencer Yankle and an RBI double by
Cale Gibson to tie the game at 2-2.Â
- In the seventh, the Eagles scored twice more to take a 4-2 lead. After
Brandon Fite led off the inning with a triple, he was knocked in by a
CJ Conrad single up the middle. Conrad would score later in the inning on an RBI groundout to second by
Matthew Mulkey.Â
- Toledo regained the lead in the top of the ninth, plating three runs off of Winthrop reliever
Dalton Whitaker. Whitaker was the losing pitcher on Friday.Â
- After the first two Eagles were retired in the top of the ninth, the Eagles loaded the bases with a single by
Spencer Yankle and then consecutive walks by
Dillon Morton and pinch hitter
Hunter Lipscomb. With two outs,
Jake Sullivan lined out to center field for the final out of the game.Â
NOTABLESÂ
- The Winthrop offense knocked 11 hits on Friday, with nine different Eagles recording at least one hit.
Spencer Yankle and
Brandon Fite each had multi-hit games Friday.Â
-
Cody Whitten was very effective as the first man out of the bullpen. The southpaw tossed three scoreless innings while allowing only one hit and striking out two.Â
- The Eagles left 12 runners on base Friday, including leaving the bases loaded in the seventh and ninth innings.
UP NEXT
- The Eagles and Rockets will conclude the three game set on Saturday. Due to inclement weather expected Sunday, there will be a doubleheader at the WInthrop Ballpark on Saturday beginning at 1pm. There will be two nine-inning games with around a 30 minute break in between the two contests.Â
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