FAIRFAX, VA - Winthrop pitching recorded its first shutout Sunday afternoon at Spuhler Field, as the Eagles won the contest 6-0 to win two of three and take the series over the Patriots. Winthrop is now 11-3 overall on the season with the Sunday win, dropping George Mason to 1-12 on the year. 

Tyler Jones started the game for the Eagles and went the first four innings, pitching to one batter in the fifth. Despite walking five batters, Jones was able to keep George Mason off the scoreboard by holding the Patriots to three hits, recording four strikeouts on the afternoon. With a runner on first and nobody out in the fifth inning, Tom Riginos turned to Andrew Coker out of the bullpen, and the graduate transfer was lights out in relief. Coker got all three outs of the fifth then turned in scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh innings as well, striking out one batter. Coker was the winning pitcher for the Eagles on Sunday, improving to 2-0 on the season. 

With Winthrop leading 6-0, left-hander Jason Crumley came on to pitch the eighth inning. Crumley faced the minimum three batters and recorded a strikeout to give him 19 on the season, which leads all Winthrop pitchers. Freshman left-hander Garrett Gainey came on and pitched the ninth, walking one batter and recording three groundouts to preserve the shutout and give the Eagles their eleventh win of the season. 

Offensively, Winthrop jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the third inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Scout McFalls hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Tyler Baker from third and get the Eagles on the board. With Spencer Yankle at the plate, a wild pitch allowed Luke Hannum to score from third for the Eagles' second run, sending Andrew Jenner to second on the play. During the same at-bat, Yankle would line an RBI single into left field, scoring Jenner and giving Winthrop a 3-0 advantage. 

In the top of the fifth, Cale Gibson gave Winthrop a 4-0 lead when the Eagles' right fielder lined an RBI double down the right field line that scored Andrew Jenner from third. 

The Eagles put up two tack-on runs in the seventh inning, starting with Scout McFalls bunting in Luke Hannum with a safety squeeze to the right side of the mound, putting Winthrop out in front 5-0. Two batters later, Cale Gibson hit a sacrifice fly to deep right center field to score pinch runner Dillon Morton and put the Eagles on top by six. 

UP NEXT: The Eagles will travel to Clemson, SC Tuesday to take on the Tigers at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. with coverage provided by ACC Network Extra. 

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