ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Winthrop baseball program saw their 2023 season start with a 6-3 win over LIU Friday afternoon at the Winthrop Ballpark.
 
The Eagles are 1-0 overall and improve to 28-16 all-time in season openers.
 
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
McKinley Erves (2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R)
Mark Kirkland (3-4, 2 RBI, 1 R)
 
W: Parker Whittle (1-0)
L: Jack VanDoran (0-1)
S: Josh Bookbinder (1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After drawing a walk to start the game, the Sharks would get into scoring position by stealing second base and capitalized on the opportunity on an RBI single to lead 1-0.
• In the bottom of the third, Mark Kirkland brought home CJ Conrad on an RBI single to tie it up at one.
• The visitors took a 2-1 lead on an RBI single in the top of the fourth but left the bases loaded to end the threat.
• In the bottom of the fourth, two straight sacrifices allowed Ricky Teel to come home to knot the contest at 2-2. The second sacrifice was a groundout by Ty Hooks to score Teel from third.
• LIU would leave the bases loaded for the second time in the game in the top of the sixth to keep the game level at 2-2.
• Kirkland tripled to start the Eagle half of the sixth and on the next play Brody Hopkins grounded out to first, allowing Kirkland to stroll home and gave Winthrop a 3-2 lead, their first of the night.
• The Sharks tied it up at 3-3 on an RBI single in the top of the seventh.
• Three straight RBI singles by Conrad, McKinley Erves and Kirkland in the bottom of the seventh gave Winthrop a 6-3 lead.
• Winthrop held LIU scoreless the rest of the way to secure the victory.

ON DECK
Winthrop will host LIU tomorrow at 2 p.m.