DAVIDSON, NC - Winthrop held a lead for the majority of Wednesday's game and scored five late runs to put the game away at Davidson, as the Eagles topped the Wildcats 10-3 at Wilson field for Winthrop's eighth straight win, the program's most wins to start a season since 1987.
After Davidson scored two runs to take a 2-0 first inning lead, the Eagles took complete control offensively. In the top of the second inning, Winthrop scored three times in the top of the second inning, stringing together four straight hits with two outs to take a 3-2 lead. With nobody on and two outs,
Ethan Fewell doubled down the left field line to set up
Matt Levenson, who tripled into the right field corner to score Fewell and get the Eagles on the board. Winthrop tied the game off the bat of
CJ Conrad, who doubled home Levenson to give the Eagles their second run. Winthrop then claimed the lead thanks to
Tyler Baker, who lined a single into center field to score Conrad and make it 3-2 Winthrop.
The fourth run of the night for the Eagles came across in the third inning when
Cale Gibson came up with runners on first and second and singled into right field, bringing
Scout McFalls to the plate from second base. In the top of the fourth, the Eagles added their fifth run when
Andrew Jenner reached on an RBI fielder's choice, scoring
Tyler Baker from third base.
In the top of the ninth inning, Winthrop broke the game open by scoring five insurance runs.
Joe McNamara led off the inning being hit by a pitch, and
Andrew Jenner laid down a bunt and was able to get to second base on a Davidson throwing error, setting the Eagles up with runners on second and third with one out. Two batters later,
Spencer Yankle clubbed a 2RBI triple to the right center field wall, extending the Eagles' lead to 7-2. Two batters after Yankle was
Ethan Fewell, who lined an RBI single to score Yankle and make it 8-2 Winthrop. After Fewell advanced to second on a wild pitch,
Matt Levenson doubled to left field for his second extra base hit of the game, driving in Fewell to make it a 9-2 game. Winthrop's final run of the night came via
CJ Conrad, who lined a double to right field to score Levenson from second and give the Eagles a double-digit offensive effort.
On the mound,
Andrew Coker started for the Eagles and turned in a solid performance, logging 4.2 innings of four hit, two run ball, striking out three and walking one. Coker settled in nicely after allowing a two-run home run in the first inning, turning in three scoreless innings following.
Bryan Petta came on with two outs in the fifth inning and was nothing short of impressive. The junior left-hander recorded four outs - all via strikeout - to give Winthrop 1.1 innings of dominant relief. Petta was the winning pitcher in Wednesday's ballgame (1-0) due to coming in with two outs in the fifth inning.
Dalton Mims came on for the sixth inning and retired the only man he faced via strikeout, as the freshman continues to impress in his matchup role.
Jason Crumley then got the final two outs of the seventh, as the senior left-hander struck out two and walked one, escaping a two on, two out jam in what was then a 5-2 game by striking out Brent Centracchio who had homered earlier in the ballgame.
Willie Lumpkin took the ball for the eighth inning and tossed a scoreless frame, striking out two while walking one and hitting a batter. Like Crumley, Lumpkin escaped a two on, two out jam with a strikeout to preserve the lead.
Colten Rendon came on for the ninth inning in a non-save situation, allowing one run on two hits when the game was firmly in hand for the Eagles.
UP NEXT: The Eagles welcome Kent State to the Winthrop Ballpark for the first game of 2020's Coca-Cola series Friday for a 4 p.m. first pitch.
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