Boiling Springs, N.C. – Winthrop hung on to win their first road game of the season, evening the three-game Big South series at Gardner-Webb by a final score of 3-2 Saturday afternoon. With the victory, Winthrop moves to 9-12 overall and 3-2 in conference action.
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Jaylen Hernandez (1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR)
Nate Chronis (1-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR)
W:
Reese Lumpkin (2-3)
L: Michael Ciminiello (0-3)
S:
Parker Whittle (2)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Humberto Torres's RBI single to left field gave Gardner-Webb a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
- Jaylen Hernandez nailed his second homer of the series to tie things up at one in the top of the second.
- Nate Chronis's two-run shot to left field broke the tie and put Winthrop ahead in the top of the fifth.
- Following Torres's home run, Lumpkin shut Gardner-Webb down for the next four innings.
- The Runnin' Bulldogs ended their scoreless drought in the bottom of the sixth when Alec Burns came home to score on a wild pitch with one out and guys on second and third.
- Eagle relief pitcher Parker Whittle came on in relief and retired the next two batters to maintain Winthrop's one-run edge.
- In the top of the eighth, Chazz Grossington tripled to center field with one out to give the Eagles an opportunity to extend their lead but was tagged out at home on the next play to largely end the threat.
- Then with Gardner-Webb's Peter Capobianco at third after Torres flew out to left field for the second out, Tommy Tavarez grounded out to end the bottom of the inning.
- Whittle pitched the final four innings and with Ethan Rossow at second base after a balk with one out, Whittle struck out the next two batters to end the ballgame.
ON DECK
Winthrop concludes the series with Gardner-Webb tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
