ROCK HILL, S.C. - Coming off an 8-5 loss at Clemson on a walk-off three-run home run Tuesday night to fall to 9-13, Winthrop entertains the Runnin' Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb University in the Big South home opener in a three-game series on Friday at 6 p.m.
 
The two schools will meet for the 73rd time with the Eagles leading the series by a 44-28 count, including a 27-11 record in Rock Hill. The two schools met for the first time in 1980, with Winthrop taking both contests on the way to winning the first 11 matchups. After losing for the first time to GW in 1986, the Eagles won the next 17 games with the Runnin' Bulldogs. Since 2010, the series has been largely dominated by GW, including currently going 14-3 vs. the Eagles dating back to 2018. Last season saw GW take two of three from Winthrop in Boiling Springs, N.C., including the most recent meeting, a 15-6 margin on Apr. 16, 2022. Winthrop's last win in the series was a 7-5 road win the day before. Winthrop is seeking their first series win since 2017, when the Eagles registered a sweep in Rock Hill.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs most recent game was a 3-0 sweep of Longwood at home this past weekend to open conference play. GW also has seven series wins so far, including a rare 4-0 sweep of St. Bonaventure at home. GW is currently 14-6 on the year and have won eight straight games. Last season, GW finished with an overall record of 24-36 and 11-13 in the Big South. GW was voted to finish fourth in the Big South in the 2023 preseason coaches poll.
 
Winthrop enters 2023 predicted to finish ninth in the Big South Conference. The Eagles finished the 2022 season with an 18-34 (11-13 Big South) record. The Eagles also welcome back 18 players, nine of them starters and 16 newcomers, all either freshman or transfers.
 

Gardner-Webb (14-6, 3-0 Big South) at Winthrop (9-13, 0-3 Big South)
Date	Friday, March 24 / GAME 1	Saturday, March 25 / GAME 2	Sunday, March 26 / GAME 3
First Pitch	6:00 p.m. ET	3:00 p.m. ET	1:00 p.m. ET
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Probable Pitching Matchups (2023 Stats)	Bobby Alcock (3-0, 2.45 ERA) vs.  Alex Logusch (0-2, 7.17 ERA)	Tyler Switalski (4-1, 3.34 ERA) vs. Dyson Johnson (1-2, 5.18 ERA)	Casey Young (1-0, 4.76 ERA) vs. Brody Hopkins (0-4, 9.20 ERA)