CLEMSON, SC - After losing three straight one-run games to Clemson dating back to 2016, Winthrop was able to get over the hump on Tuesday night, beating the Tigers 8-6 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium for their first win over Clemson since 2015. Winthrop is now 24-16 on the season with the win, and the Tigers drop to 25-16 with the loss. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

- The Eagles used four bullpen arms to get through the game on Tuesday. Tyler Jones got the start and struggled with his location, getting only two outs into the first innings. Jones went 0.2 innings, allowing five runs (all earned) while allowing only one hit. Jones walked four batters and was lifted in favor of fellow freshman Braxton Foley. Foley was a crucial piece of Winthrop's win, giving the Eagles 4.2 innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen while scattering five hits, striking out five and walking one.

- Dalton Whitaker entered with one out in the sixth inning and was very sharp for the third straight outing, tossing 2.2 innings of shutout ball. Whitaker walked four, including three in the seventh inning, but escaped the bases-loaded jam with a crucial strikeout to preserve what was then a 7-6 lead. In the ninth inning, Colten Rendon came on and picked up his fourth save of the season, tossing a perfect ninth inning and recording a strikeout in the process. 

- Winthrop got right to work offensively in the top of the first inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Grant English, who lined a double down the right field line into the corner to clear the bases and give the Eagles a 3-0 lead right out of the gate. 

- After Clemson scored five tmes in the bottom of the first to take a 5-3 lead, the Eagles answered back for a run in the top of the third. Alex Raines singled up the middle to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. With two outs in the frame, Grant English knocked his second RBI hit of the night, an RBI single to left field to score Raines and cut the lead to one at 5-4. 

- Winthrop scored another run in the top of the sixth when Spencer Yankle led off the inning with his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to tie the game at 5. After the Tigers retook the lead at 6-5 with a run in the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles retook a 7-6 lead in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs when Alex Raines ripped an RBI to left center field, bringing in Jake Sullivan and Tyler Baker. The Eagles then added an insurance run in the top of the eighth. Grant English doubled down the right field line for his third hit of the game, and then was driven in on an RBI single by Jake Sullivan with two outs to make it 8-6 Eagles. 

NOTABLES

- Alex Raines and Grant English each had three hits in Tuesday's contest, with the pair producing six of the Eagles' eleven hits. Raines went 3-5 with three singles, two RBI and two runs scored and English went 3-4 with two doubles, 4 RBI and a run scored. 

- Dalton Whitaker and Colten Rendon continued their scoreless inning streaks on Tuesday. Whitaker's 2.2 scoreless frames give him 8.2 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three outings, and Rendon has also logged 8.2 straight scoreless frames, spanning across six outings for the junior. 

- Tuesday was Braxton Foley's third outing of at least 4.0 innings this season, two of those efforts coming in relief for the freshman. 

UP NEXT: The Eagles are off for eight days before returning to action at Wofford on Wednesday, May 1 for a 6 p.m. first pitch. 

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