Boiling Springs, N.C. – The Eagles dropped both games of Friday's double header, 13-1 in Game 1 and a heartbreaking 8-7 loss in Game 2. Winthrop is now 11-18 overall with an 8-13 mark against Big South opponents.
 
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
GAME 1
Joe McNamara (2-for-4)
Spencer Yankle (1 RBI)
Daniel Blair (5 IP, 5 Ks)
 
GAME 2
Joe McNamara (1-for-5, 2 RBI)
Spencer Yankle (1 RBI)
Dillon Morton (2 RBI)
Jonathan Strauss (1-for3, 1 RBI)
Jason Crumley (3.1 IP, 3 Ks)
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1

• The Eagles had two base runners in the first inning but Spencer Yankle was picked off at first to end Winthrop's half of the inning scoreless.
• Tyler Jones gave up a lead-off home run to Mitch McClendon but settled down after that, giving up a walk and then getting three straight outs. Gardner-Webb led 1-0 after one.
• Gardner-Webb blew that game wide open with a seven-run 2^nd inning, capped off with a Patrick Ferguson three-run homer to take an 8-0 lead. Daniel Blair came in in relief and got the final out of the inning.
• Winthrop finally got on the board in the top of the 6^th. Tyler Baker and Joe McNamara singled in back-to-back at-bats. Andrew Jenner grounded out, advancing the runner's to scoring position. Baker came home on Spencer Yankle's sac fly to make it an 11-1 game.
• The Runnin' Bulldogs put up zeros in the bottom of the 5^th and 6^th but added another two runs to their lead in the 7^th and 8^th.
• Winthrop wouldn't score again, dropping game 1, 13-1.

GAME 2

• Gardner-Webb got the scoring underway when Eric Jones doubled down the right field line, scoring J Simone and Mitch McClendon to take a 2-0 lead.
• Jason Crumley settled down after the first, putting together a scoreless second and third inning.
• Willie Lumpkin came in in relief in the fourth inning, pitching around a one-out, bases loaded jam to keep Gardner-Webb off the board, 2-0.
• Both offenses came alive in the 8^th inning.
• Scout McFalls and Joey Tepper strung together back-to-back singles to lead-off the 8^th. Jonathan Strauss was walked in the next at-bat to load the bases up with no outs.
• Tyler Baker reached on an error, bringing home McFalls.
• With two outs and bases loaded, Yankle drew the walk, bringing in a run and in the next at-bat, Morton was hit by the pitch, taking a 3-2 lead.
• With two on and no outs, Colten Rendon came in to close things out and gave up a three-run homer to Patrick Ferguson to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 5-3 lead going into the 9^th inning.
• To lead off the 9^th, McFalls was hit on the second pitch he saw and advanced to third on Tepper's double to left.
• Jonathan Strauss singled to center bringing home McFalls, making it a one-run game.
• McNamara smashed the second pitch he saw up the middle, bringing home Strauss and Tepper to take a 6-5 lead with no outs.
• Baker scored from third on a deep sac fly off the bat of Morton to take a two-run, 7-5, edge.
•  Colten Rendon gave up a no-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the 9^th to win the contest, 8-7.

 
ON DECK
These teams will close out the three-game series with a single game on Sunday, April 25. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. The schedule was adjusted due to inclement weather on Saturday.