Rock Hill, S.C. — Winthrop softball's seventh inning rally with homeruns from came up just short in a 3-2 loss to UIC, Friday afternoon at Terry Field on the first day of the Winthrop Garnet-Gold Classic.

The first two games of the day were completed, but the remaining games were canceled due to rain. Winthrop's schedule has changed as it will face St. Francis (3 p.m.) and Mount St. Mary's (5:30 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Eagles will now be in action on Sunday, Feb. 28 when they host Tennessee Tech at 11:45 a.m. and then Mount St. Mary's at 2 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
RECORDS: Winthrop (5-5) | UIC (1-0)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Ashley Westbrooks (2-for-3, R, HR, RBI) | Madyson Watson (1-for-3, HR/3.2 IP, 8K)

WHAT HAPPENED

• Flames took the lead with a leadoff homerun in the top of the first inning by Kayla Wedl
• Macy McCall led off the bottom of the first by dropping a bunt down followed by a walk from Lauren King to put the Eagles in position to tie the game
• Eagles were unable to push a run across after three straight ground outs
• Bottom of the second, Ashley Westbrooks singled through the left side with one out
• Chloe Baker liner to right field put runners at first and second
• The runners moved to third on a fly out but McCall grounded to end the threat
• Tara McElligott led off the fourth with a home run to double the UIC lead to 2-0
• With one out Cebedo doubled down the right field line and then scored on a single from Cran for a three run lead
• In the fourth inning with one out, Madyson Watson came in to pitch and was able to work out of the jam with two strikeouts to keep it a three-run game
• Watson continued to look sharp in the circle as she struck out two more batters in the fifth inning
• Watson put the Eagles on the board with one out in the bottom of the sixth when she hit a solo homerun to center
• Westbrooks started a rally attempt as she sent one deep over the left field wall her first homerun of the season
• With two outs, Bailey Warren doubled to put the tying run in scoring position but McCall lined out to short to end the game
• Watson tossed 3.2 innings of relief without allowing a run, a hit and had eight strikeouts to no walks

EXTRA BASES

• Watson now has 31 strikeouts and just four walks in the last 19.1 innings pitched
• Watson passed Brianne McKnight for 9^th on the all-time strikeout list with 308 and is now 18 back of 8^th place
• Westbrooks hit her 21^st career homerun as she's now all alone in 8^th all-time at Winthrop and is now just three hits shy of 13^th on the all-time hit list