ROCK HILL - For the second time in the four game series against Canisius, the Eagles used a late rally Sunday to take victory from the Golden Griffins. Entering the bottom of the eighth inning trailing 2-0, Winthrop scored three runs in frame to take a 3-2 lead which they would hold in the top of the ninth. Winthrop is now 7-0 on the year, the program's best start to a season since 2010 when the Eagles won seven straight games to open the year. 

Winthrop took the lead from Canisius in the eighth inning by scoring three runs on only one hit, as the Golden Griffins made four errors in the eighth inning (five for the game). Joe McNamara led off the inning by reaching on an error by the Canisius second baseman, and moments later advanced to second on a passed ball. Tyler Baker then bounced a ball to first base that was mishandled, allowing Baker to reach first as McNamara took third base on the play. With runners on first and third with nobody out, leadoff man Luke Hannum hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored McNamara from third to get Winthrop on the board at 2-1. On the play, Tyler Baker advanced to second base as the throw from deep right field sailed past a vacant first base bag, putting Baker in scoring position on the throwing error. With Baker on second base, Andrew Jenner singled to center field and Baker was held at third base, but Jenner took second on the throw to give Winthrop runners on second and third with one out. After a Canisius pitching change, Scout McFalls was intentionally walked, sending up Spencer Yankle who walked with the bases loaded to score Baker from third and tie the game 2-2. Next up was Cale Gibson, who bounced a ground ball to third base that was thrown off target to the plate, allowing Andrew Jenner to score on the fielder's choice and give Winthrop a 3-2 lead. 

Closer Colten Rendon came on for the ninth inning and converted his third save in as many chances, allowing one hit in a clean ninth inning. 

Stout pitching was once again there for the Eagles on Sunday, as the Winthrop pitching staff now boasts a season ERA of 2.00 through seven games. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Jones got the start and tossed five innings of three hit, one run ball while striking out six and walking only one, earning a no decision. Freshman righty Dalton Skinner came on for the sixth and was steady in relief of Jones, logging 2.1 innings while allowing one run (unearned) on one hit, recording two strikeouts. The final two outs of the top of the eighth were spread among Dalton Mims (one batter faced, one out recorded), Aaron White (one batter faced, one hit allowed) and Andrew Coker, who faced three hitters and collected the final out of the eighth while allowing one hit. Coker was Sunday's winning pitcher for Winthrop, giving the graduate transfer his first Winthrop victory (1-0 on the season). 

UP NEXT: The Eagles travel to Davidson, NC to take on the Davidson Wildcats for a 6 p.m. first pitch Wednesday, February 26. Winthrop looks to win its eighth straight game to start the season, which would be the best start to a year for the Winthrop program since the 1987 Eagles coached by Horace Turbeville won 19 straight contests to open the season. 

#ROCKtheHILL