ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Eagles were shutout by the USC Upstate Spartans in the series opener Friday night, 5-0. Winthrop falls to 6-7 on the season.  
 
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Joey Tepper (1-for-4, 2B)
Dillon Morton (1-for-4, 2B)
Spencer Yankle (1-for-4, 2B)
Tyler Jones (5.2 IP, 5 Ks, 3 ER)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tyler Jones gave up a lead-off single to open the contest but settled down quickly, sitting down the next three batters in order.
• Dillon Morton was left on base in Winthrop's half of the inning, after doubling to left field with two outs.
• Both pitchers got through the second inning with no damage, sitting down the three batters they faced in order.
• In the third, Jones got Damon Maynard to ground out before giving up a single to Jack Hennessy, who would advance to second on a wild pitch.
• Jason Matthews fouled out and in the next at-bat, Devin Buckner hit a shot to center field, putting Upstate ahead, 1-0.
• Jones put together a three-strikeout inning in the top of the 4^th.
• Joey Tepper led off the bottom of the 4^th with a double down the left field line, putting himself in scoring position with no outs.
• Despite the lead-off double and advancing to third, Tepper would be stranded on base, keeping it a 1-0 game in favor of USC Upstate.
• In the top of the fifth, Winthrop would commit two errors, leading Upstate to tack on two insurance runs.
• The Eagles threatened to tie things up in their half of the 5^th.
• Ty Hooks led off the inning with a single up the middle.
• With one out, Ethan Fewell singled up the right side to move Hooks to second.  
• In the next at-bat, Joseph Szvetitz reached on a fielder's choice, moving Fewell to second and forcing Hooks out at third.
• Bases were loaded up with Tepper at the plate, who went down on a 3-2 count, ending the inning without getting any runs across.
• Upstate would tack on another run with a Jeff Taylor one-out home run to 4-0 lead over the Eagles through six innings.
• Dalton Mims would come in to face Matthews with two outs in the 6^th. He would get him to ground out on the second pitch.
• Both pitchers pitched 1,2,3 seventh and eighth innings.
• Dalton Skinner gave up a two-out single to Matthews, who came home on a double off the bat of Buckner in the next at-bat.
• The Eagles would go down 1,2,3 to end the contest, dropping Game 1, 5-0.

 ON DECK
The Eagles will host the Spartans on Saturday, Mar. 27 for a double-header. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m.