Box Score BUIES CREEK, NC— A bases clearing double by
Morgan Lowers highlighted a five-run sixth inning as Winthrop rallied to defeat Charleston Southern 6-3 in the opening game of the 2019 Big South Conference Softball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting.
GAME INFORMATION
RECORDS: Winthrop (27-23, 14-10 Big South) | Charleston Southern (18-35, 12-12 Big South)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Morgan Lowers (3-4, 2B, 3RBI) |
Kiley Majette (Win, 3IP, H, 0R, 2K / 1-1, 2B, RBI) |
Logan Webb (1-2, R, RBI)
WHAT HAPPENED
- Buccaneers grabbed an early lead with two runs in the top of the third
- With one out, Brooklyn Brewington reached on a bunt single and then Jade Gandara went opposite field for a two-run homerun
- The Eagles did respond in the bottom half to cut the deficit in half
- With one out, Taylor Charlton walked and then back-to-back singles by Blake Wallert and Morgan Lowers loaded the bases for Ashley Westbrooks
- Westbrooks hit a fly ball to center and Charlton tagged up and scored on the play but was injured sliding home when she collided with the catcher
- Charleston Southern got out of the jam as Amanda Pilgrim caught Keleigh Romine looking on a 3-2 count
- Madison Koger gave the Bucs a 3-1 lead as she led off the fifth inning with a homerun to center
- With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Madyson Watson was hit by a pitch that started the rally
- Kiley Majette came in to pinch-hit for Tori Walker and delivered a double to left center on a 1-2 pitch as Watson hustled all the way around to score and make it a one run game
- Then after Ansley Gilreath was intentionally walked, Logan Webb singled up the middle to tie the game
- Wallert followed with a single to load the bases and then Lowers cleared the bases with a double to left center for a 6-3 lead
- Majette closed the door on the Bucs in the seventh by retiring the side in order her ninth win of the season and 42nd of her career
EXTRA BASES
- The Eagles have trailed heading into the sixth inning in their last four victories, including three straight wins over the Bucs
- Lowers has now hit safely in her last 11 conference tournament games and now has nine RBI in 11 career conference tourney contests
- The double in the sixth by Lowers was the 30th of her career as she's the 13th player in program history to reach 30 doubles in a career
- Lowers now has 81 career RBI, becoming the 18th player in program history with 80 or more in a career
- Majette recorded two strikeouts in relief and now has 479 in her career, 13 behind Cari (Wooldridge) Moore for 5th all-time in program history
- Eagles are now 14-4 all-time against Charleston Southern in the conference tournament and 57-50 all-time
- Westbrooks had a sacrifice fly in the third inning and now has eight RBI in eight career conference tournament games
ON DECK
The Eagles advance to take on top-seeded Longwood on Thursday, May 9 at noon on day two of the 2019 Big South Conference Softball Championship. The game will air live on ESPN3.
