ROCK HILL, SC - Winthrop trailed Campbell 9-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning on Sunday morning and it appeared the Camels would cruise to a series win at the Winthrop Ballpark. However Winthrop completed their largest comeback of the season, scoring nine unanswered runs in the final three innings to stun Campbell 10-9 to win the three game series and pull to within a half game of first place in the Big South Conference at 16-8 in league play (29-19 overall).
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Thad Harris started on the mound for the Eagles and couldn't escape the fifth inning on Sunday. Harris went 4.1 innings, allowing five runs (all earned) on six hits, striking out one and walking three. Harris was replaced by
Dalton Whitaker with one out in the fifth inning and was touched up for two runs (both earned) on just one hit, walking two batters.
Jason Crumley entered with one out in the top of the sixth and was unable to record an out, allowing hits to three straight batters before being lifted and ultimately being charged two runs as Campbell took a 9-1 lead. Braxrton Foley pitched 2.2 innings of sparkling shutout relief, keeping the score unchanged and giving the Winthrop offense a chance.
- Trailing Campbell 9-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Eagles plated three runs in the frame to cut the Campbell lead to 9-4, with the entire rally happening with two outs.
Spencer Yankle walked with two out and nobody on and was followed by
Hunter Lipscomb, who hit a single to right field to set up runners on first and second.
Grant English then tripled to right center field, bringing Yankle and Lipscomb to the plate to make it a 4-3 game. The Eagle's fourth run scored when the next man up
Matthew Mulkey singled to center field, scoring
Grant English.
- After going scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles' six-run eighth brought them all the way back to take a 10-9 lead.
Spencer Yankle led off the inning with a double down the right field line and then advanced to third on a balk with
Hunter Lipscomb at the plate. Lipscomb then drove in Yankle with a single the other way to left field, making it a 9-5 game. Two batters later, Matthew Mukey singled to center field to move Lipscomb to second base and then
Jake Sullivan singled to left field to load the bases with one out as Lipscomb was held at third base.
Brandon Fite then came through with the bases loaded, singling to left to score Lipscomb from third to make it a 9-6 deficit. The next batter up was pinch hitter
Dillon Morton who delivered with his biggest knock of the season, a line drive single through the right side to score Mulkey and make it a 9-7 game. Two batters later,
Alex Raines drew a walk with the bases loaded to score
Jake Sullivan and make it a one run game at 9-8.
Spencer Yankle then came back to the plate for the second time in the inning and delivered the game-winning hit, a single into left field to score
Brandon Fite and pinch runner
Drake Smith.
- With the lead in hand,
Colten Rendon came on and pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his seventh save of the season and give the Eagles the dramatic Sunday morning victory.
NOTABLES
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Braxton Foley was Sunday's winning pitcher for the Eagles, giving the freshman his first career collegiate victory.
- Winthrop banged out 14 hits on Sunday and got multi-hit performances from five different players, led by
Jake Sullivan (3-4, RBI, R) along with
Spencer Yankle (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R),
Grant English (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R),
Matthew Mulkey (2-4, RBI, R) and
Hunter Lipscomb (2-5, RBI, 2 R)
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Colten Rendon's seventh save moves him into a tie with Jarrett Thompson of Gardner-Webb and Kole Harris of UNC Asheville for the most saves in the Big South Conference.
UP NEXT: The Eagles will travel to Greensboro, NC to take on UNC Greensboro in their final midweek game of the season. Tuesday's first pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
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