Rock Hill, S.C. — Winthrop dropped two close games in a doubleheader against Coastal Carolina Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action. Eagles fell 2-0 in the opener and 5-3 in extra innings in the nightcap.
GAME INFORMATION
RECORD: Winthrop (11-21, 5-4 Big South) | Coastal Carolina (14-17, 1-8 Sun Belt)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Paige Rivas (3-for-6, BB, SB) |
Mackenzie Smith (2-for-7, R, RBI)
WHAT HAPPENED
Game 1
- The Chanticleers scored in the top of the first as Riley Zana doubled down the left field line to score Makiya Thomas from second
- Eagles got a runner on base in each of the first three innings but couldn't capitalize
- Best chance came in the third as Paige Rivas singled with two outs and then stole second to get into scoring position but Lauren Daniels struck out
- Coastal Carolina added another run with a solo homer in the top of the seventh by Zana
- Coastal Carolina's Kaitlin BeasleyPolko only allowed one more base runner over the final four innings as she allowed one hit with no walks and 10 strikeouts
- Reese Basinger suffered the loss, but tossed a complete game allowing just two runs on three hits with a walk and six strikeouts
Game 2
- Coastal Carolina loaded the bases in the top of the first, but Sydney Boulware got M. Jennings swinging to end the threat
- In the bottom of the second, the Eagles led off with a walk from Lauren King and a single up the middle from Daniels
- Ashton Vanhouse walked to load the bases, but the Eagles grounded into a force out at home plate in back-to-back plate appearances to end the inning
- The Chanticleers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third with two outs as Iyanla De Jesus homered to center field
- Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Kaitlyn Tucker was hit by a pitch to start things off
- Vanhouse reached on a fielder's choice and McKenzie West moved to third on an errant throw from the pitcher to put runners at the corners
- Vanhouse stole second and as the throw was on its way to second base from the catcher West raced home and just beat the throw to cut the deficit in half at 2-1
- Mackenzie Smith then came through with a single to center scoring Vanhouse
- Chanticleers regained the lead in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI double down the left field line by Abbey Montoya that just barely stayed fair
- Eagles loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth and Lauren Hutcherson hit a grounder to third
- The third baseman went down on a knee to field the ball and then tried to step backward on the bag at third for the final out but Macy McCall beat her to the bag and Smith scored to tie the game
- Winthrop loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but pinch-hitter Ashley Wood and Smith were both called out on strikes to end the game
EXTRA BASES
- Vanhouse added to her single-season best stolen bases total swiping her 16th of the season
- Paige Rivas stole her 13th of the season as the Eagles now have 69 on the year, moving them into 9th most in a single-season by a Winthrop team
- King extended her streak of reaching base to seven straight
- Winthrop got the leadoff batter on in four of the seven innings, but finished the game 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position
ON DECK
Winthrop is back on the road for a Big South Conference series as it will travel to Spartanburg, S.C.
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