Spartanburg, S.C. – Behind strong pitching and timely hitting the Winthrop softball team swept a doubleheader at USC Upstate Thursday evening. The Eagles took the first game 2-1 and the nightcap 2-0.
GAME INFORMATION
RECORD: Winthrop (25-14, 7-4 Big South) | USC Upstate (28-12, 4-7 Big South)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Sydney Boulware (CG, W, SHO, 3H, 2BB, 5K) |
Reese Basinger (CG, W, H, R, 2BB, 8K) |
KaDedra Temple (4-6, R, 2RBI, BB, SAC) |
Peyton Rivas (3-5, R, BB)
WHAT HAPPENED
Game 1
- Spartans struck first in the bottom of the first with two outs as Tiffany Domingue walked and later scored on a double by Summer Johnson
- Winthrop loaded the bases in the top of the first with two outs but were unable to drive in a run as Lilly Stump struck out for the third out
- Peyton Rivas singled in the second inning with one out and moved to second on a ground out but was left stranded
- Peyton Rivas led off the 5th with a single up the middle, moved to second on a ground out with one out and then was called out for interference for the third out
- Eagles threatened in the top of the sixth as Macy McCall led off with a single to right center
- Two batters later Ansley Lee singled down the left field line to put runners at the corners
- Ashton Vanhouse took over as a pinch runner for Lee and proceeded to steal second
- Both runners were stranded as pinch-hitters Isabella Clark and Bailey Warren were unable to drive in a run
- In the top of the seventh, Peyton Rivas led off with a single short followed by a walk by Olivia Martin to get things going for the Eagles
- Paige Rivas followed by reaching on an error as the runners moved over and the bases were loaded with no outs
- KaDedra Temple came through with a single to right center, scoring Peyton Rivas and Martin for a 2-1 lead
- Upstate did get a runner in scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but Reese Basinger put an end to it with a strikeout to end the game
- Basinger improved to 14-7 on the year as she allowed just the one run on one hit with two walks and eight strikeouts
Game 2
- The Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first as Ella McGalliard was able to drive in a run on a sacrifice fly
- Eagles threatened again in the second inning as Lilly Stump drew a leadoff walk and then stole second
- Stump moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Martin and Paige Rivas came through with a single to left to plate Stump for a 2-0 lead
- Sydney Boulware kept the Upstate offense in check and finished the game off with a 1-2-3 inning
- The Spartans did get a runner into scoring position in the second and fourth innings but Boulware worked out of it both times
EXTRA BASES
- With wins in both games, head coach Windy Thees earns her 100th victory at the helm of the Eagles
- Boulware tossed her fifth shutout of the season and second in her last three starts
- The shutout was the ninth of the season by the Eagles and the most by a Winthrop team since 2008
- The sweep of the doubleheader ensures the Eagles take the regular season series from the Spartans for the second time in the last three seasons
- The win for Boulware was her 10th of the season as she and Basinger become the first Winthrop pitching duo to each have 10 or more wins in a season since Madyson Watson (15) and Kiley Majette (10) in 2019
- Temple extended her hitting streak to six games and has now reached base safely in 14 straight games
ON DECK
Winthrop will return home Apr. 14-15 to host a weekend conference series against Presbyterian College. The series begins with a single game on Friday, Apr. 14 at 4 p.m. and then a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 15 at 1 p.m.
For everything Winthrop softball visit
www.winthropeagles.com or follow us on social media @Winthropsoftbal, winthropsoftball (Instagram) or
www.facebook.com/Winthrop-Softball
