Birmingham, Ala.— It was a good opening day for Winthrop softball as it earned a 5-3 win over Akron to start the day and then rallied for an 8-5 win at Samford, Friday at the Samford Tournament.

GAME INFORMATION
RECORDS: Winthrop (2-0) | Akron (0-2) | Samford (1-1)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Ansley Gilreath (5-for-7, 2R, 4RB, 2 2B, HR) | Tori Walker (3-for-5, R, 2RBI, 2BB) | Taylor Charlton (3-for-5, R, 3 RBI) | Madyson Watson (Win, 7IP, 6H, 3R, 2BB, 6K) | Bella Roy (Win, 2IP, H, 2K)
 
WHAT HAPPENED
vs. Akron

• Eagles had one base runner over the first three innings but the offense got going in the fourth
• Tori Walker led off with a double as she hit one in the gap in right center that landed in front of the diving centerfielder as she hustled to second base
• After being sacrificed over to third by Lauren King, Ashley Westbrooks delivered with a single to left for a 1-0 lead
• Madyson Watson followed with a single to put runners and first and second for Ansley Gilreath
• The senior first baseman came through as she drove a ball down the right field line and into the corner as both Westbrooks and Watson scored for a 3-0 lead
• Pinch-runner Dallas Singleton scored her first collegiate run as she came home on a single from Taylor Charlton
• In the top of the sixth, Akron made it a one-run game thanks to a couple of long balls
• Hailey Eckelberry singled with one out and then moved to third on throwing error from Westbrooks after Kayla Wulf flied out
• Sydney Jascoe stepped in and hit a two-run shot to left to cut the Winthrop lead in half
• Bailey Drapola followed with a solo shot to center but Watson got the final out to preserve the one-run lead
• Gilreath led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run as she blasted a shot to left
• Watson allowed a leadoff double in the seventh but struck out two of the final three batters to earn the win
• Watson allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts
• It was Watson's 24^th career win and she's 16-4 in her last 20 decisions
• Gilreath finished with three RBI and as she and Charlton each finished with two hits

Game 2
at Samford

• Freshman Aisha Weixlmann had an impressive start to her collegiate career, striking out three of four batters she faced
• Gilreath picked up where she left off from the earlier game as she doubled to right with one out in the second inning
• Logan Webb followed with a walk and then Weixlmann was hit by a pitch to load the bases
• A.G. Gardner stepped up and ripped a single to center for a 1-0 lead
• Walker followed with a shot to third that went off the top of the glove of the third baseman leaping in the air to try and make a play as Webb scored for a 2-0 lead
• Westbrooks led off the third with a single to center, moved to third when Watson reached on a fielding error putting two runners in scoring position
• Gilreath came to the plate and ripped a shot to short for an RBI single as Westbrooks scored for a 3-0 lead
• After a line shot by Ellie Marks that was snagged on a nice defensive play, Webb came through with a single to right to plate Watson for a 4-0 lead
• In the bottom of the third Samford tried to get some runs back as Dorsett drew a leadoff walk
• After a strikeout, Weixlmann got a fly ball to center but an error put runners at the corners
• Weixlmann shook it off by striking out the next batter and then a foul ball to left was snagged by Walker as she climbed the wall and reached over to make the catch for the third out
• Samford had a big fourth inning as it took the lead in the bottom half
• Weixlmann issued a leadoff walk but then got a fly out to center for the first out
• The next batter grounded to short as Marks flipped the ball to second for the force out but the throw was high as Gardner couldn't stay on the bag
• The next batter flied out but then a wild pitch and walk loaded the bases
• Whitney Hinton stepped up for the Bulldogs and singled to left to make it 4-1
• Then O'Neil Roberson stepped up a hit a grand slam to center to take the lead 5-4
• In the top of the 6^th, Charlton reach on an error and then stole second to lead things off
• Ashton Vanhouse reached on an infield single and then stole second to put runners at second and third
• A wild pitch allowed the runners to move over as Charlton hustled home to tie the game at 5-5
• Walker gave Winthrop the 6-5 lead on a single to left
• Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and with one out Charlton came through with a  two-run single to right center for an 8-5 lead
• Sabrina Shroades loaded the bases with an infield single and still just one out
• Weixlmann was solid in her collegiate debut going 3.2 innings allowing the five runs on five his

EXTRA BASES

• Eagles won their fourth straight season opener and have now won eight of the last 10
• Eagles have scored at least four runs in each of the last four openers, outscoring opponents 26-13 in the last four
• Westbrooks RBI against Akron gives her 95 in her career and had two hits on the day for 152 in her career
• Makayla Cyzick and Vanhouse each picked up their first collegiate hits
• In the two games combined the Eagles were 8-for-13 leading off and 12-for-24 with runners in scoring position

ON DECK
Eagles are back in action in the Samford Tournament Saturday at 11 a.m. when they will take on Akron again and then face Eastern Illinois at 1:30 p.m.