FAYETTEVILLE, NC - After taking a 13-5 defeat at the hands of Campbell on Friday afternoon, Winthrop was faced with a win-or-go-home situation Friday night against sixth-seeded High Point. Freshman Braxton Foley was handed the ball and turned in the best performance of his collegiate career, going seven-plus innings to lead the Eagles to Saturday's Big South Championship Game in a rematch with the Campbell Camels. Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

- Braxton Foley was the story of Friday's elimination game for the Eagles. The Freshman right-hander allowed a leadoff walk to come around to score in the first inning, but Foley wiggled out of further trouble in the frame. He then proceeded to turn in five consecutive scoreless innings before allowing a one-out solo home run in the seventh. Foley came out for the eighth inning and was pulled from the game after allowing a leadoff single on his 115th pitch of the night. Foley went 7.0 innings plus on Friday night, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking two. 

- Colten Rendon came on with nobody out in the eighth inning, with a runner on first base and the Eagles leading at the time 4-2. Rendon retired the next three batters he faced out of the bullpen, and then came out and tossed a perfect top of the ninth inning to seal the Eagles' 6-2 win. Rendon did not allow a baserunner in his outing, picking up two strikeouts to earn his ninth save of the year. 

- Offensively, Winthrop got things going in the bottom of the second inning with two runs to take a 2-1 lead. With one out Grant English hit a long fly ball to left center field that was missed by the High Point center fielder, allowing English to get all the way to third base on the fielding error. The next man up was Matthew Mulkey, who laced an RBI single up the middle to score English and get the Eagles on the board. Mulkey then stole second base and was able to advance to third on the play as the ball was thrown in to center field by the High Point catcher. After the batter at the plate Jake Sullivan walked, Brandon Fite hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Mulkey from third base to make it 2-1 Winthrop.

- In the bottom of the fourth, two more came across for the Eagles to push the lead to 4-1. After Grant English drew a one-out walk, Matthew Mulkey doubled down the left field line to score English all the way from first place, a close play at the plate that was upheld by replay review. Two batters later, Brandon Fite singled to center field and the ball was mishandled by High Point's center fielder, allowing Matthew Mulkey to score from second. 

- After a High Point solo home run got the Panthers back to within two at 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Winthrop came back with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the game out of reach for High Point. With one out, Grant English singled up the middle and Matthew Mulkey's double to left center field advanced him to third base. The big hit of the inning came from Jake Sullivan, who doubled down the left field line to score both runners and put the Eagles up 6-2. 

NOTABLES

- Braxton Foley shattered personal records from earlier this season, his 7.0 innings being a new career high (5.0 IP was his longest previous outing) as well as his 115 pitches thrown (previous high was 81)

- Now with nine saves on the year, Colten Rendon takes sole possession of first place of the saves lead in the Big South Conference. 

- Matthew Mulkey led the Eagles offensively with a 3-4 night including two doubles, driving in two runs and scoring three of his own. Grant English also scored three runs (1-3, BB) and Scout McFalls picked up two hits (2-4). 

UP NEXT: The Eagles will take on Campbell at 12 p.m. Saturday in the Big South Championship Game, with a chance to earn an automatic bid to an NCAA regional. 

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