Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop softball has advanced to the winner take all Big South Championship game Sunday morning after pulling off a 3-1 victory over top-seeded USC Upstate in the first championship game Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles advanced to the championship game with a 7-3 victory over second-seeded Longwood earlier in the day in the elimination game. The winner of Sunday's championship winner-take-all game will qualify for an NCAA Regional.
GAME INFORMATION
RECORD: Winthrop (26-28) | Longwood (19-33) | USC Upstate (29-21)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Reese Basinger (5IP, Save, 2H, 0R, 2BB, 5K / 0-2, 2R, RBI) |
Ansley Lee (2-6, R, HR, 3RBI)
WHAT HAPPENED
vs. #2 Longwood
- Lancers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning
- Avery Drake started the inning with a single to left center followed by an infield single to short by Lauren Fox
- Eagles got a force out on the next play as Lauren Taylor grounded to third as Emma Jackson fielded the ball, tagged the base at third and threw to first to try double up Taylor but the throw was just a hair late
- Two batters later Sophia Knock singled to left, scoring Fox from second
- In the top of the fourth the Eagles got a one out single from Ashton VanHouse
- Emma Jackson connected on what looked to be a go-ahead two-run home run but left fielder Lauren Fox leaped and robbed Jackson of the homer to keep the Eagles off the board
- VanHouse moved into scoring position with a steal, but was left stranded
- Eagles caught their first break of the game in the fifth inning as Megan Powell hit a deep ball to right field that was dropped by the right fielder as she made it to second safely on the play
- Eagles were unable to take advantage after Longwood got out of it with three straight outs
- Lancers added to their lead in bottom of the fifth as E. Vinson delivered a two-run, two-out single for a 3-0 lead
- Grayson Buckner led off the sixth with a walk followed by Paige Rivas also drawing a walk
- VanHouse loaded the bases with no outs as she reached on an infield single
- Jackson, who nearly gave the Eagles the lead earlier in the game, came through with a single, scoring Buckner from second as Paige Rivas came around to score on the play on a throwing error to make it a one run game
- KaDedra Temple walked to load the bases before Powell grounded to short as the throw came home and VanHouse was out on the force play
- Pinch-hitter Reese Basinger came up with a chance to tie the game with the bases loaded
- Basinger hit a chopper to second base as the second baseman tried to throw home for the force but Jackson beat the throw to tie the game
- On the play the throw home was low and go away into foul territory as Temple raced around to take the lead 4-3
- After a couple of reviews from that sequence, Ansley Lee stepped up and cranked a 3-run blast to center for a 7-3 advantage
vs. #1 USC Upstate
- Lancers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Taliyah Thomas
- Eagles broke up a perfect game with two outs in the top of the fifth inning as pinch-hitter Basinger drew a walk
- Ansley Lee singled to the side and was replaced on the bases by pinch-runner Ashley Wood
- Peyton Rivas then singled to second base on a chopper over the head of the pitcher
- The ball was fielded by second baseman Abby Polk as she tried to get Rivas with a throw to first that was off the mark
- Basinger and Wood both raced around to score after the throw and Rivas ended up at third
- Buckner followed with a single to right to score Peyton Rivas for a 3-1 lead
- Basinger entered the circle to start the bottom of the fifth and proceeded to strikeout the side
- Basinger allowed two more base runners over the final two innings to close out the
EXTRA BASES
- The Eagles managed three runs on three hits with all three coming in the fifth inning
- This was the 14th Championship game appearance, which are now the most by any Big South softball member in league history
- Winthrop will play for an opportunity to claim their 7th Big South Championship on Sunday
- VanHouse had one steal on the day and is now tied with teammate Paige Rivas for 3rd all-time in career steals (68)
- Basinger reached 476 career strikeouts, moving her within six strikeouts of 6th all-time
ON DECK
Winthrop takes on top-seeded USC Upstate on Sunday, May 12 at 10 a.m. and the winner will be Big South Champions, earning a berth to the NCAA Regionals.
For everything Winthrop softball visit
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