Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop rallied twice in the late innings on Saturday to earn a 4-3 win over St. John's and a 6-3 win over Youngstown State to wrap-up play at the Garnet & Gold Tournament.
GAME INFORMATION
RECORD: Winthrop (9-4) | St. John's (6-7-1) | Youngstown State (0-9)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Peyton Bryden (5-6, 2R, 2b, HR, 3RBI, BB) |
Emma Jackson (2-7, 2R, 2RBI, BB) |
Lonna Addison (W, CG, 8H, 1ER, BB, 6K)
WHAT HAPPENED
vs. St. John's
- St. John's struck first in the top of the second as Celia Macari doubled to lead off and scored on a double to left by Melanie Santos
- Red Storm added another in the top of the third as London Jarrard's double down the right field line scored Jess Bianco from second
- Eagles headed to the bottom of the seventh trailing 2-1 and got a break to start things off as Mili Watts reached on a fielding error
- Two batters later Megan Powell stepped up with two outs and hit a shot to right field that sailed over the outfielder
- Watts raced around the bases and just beat the tag at the plate with a head first slide to tie the game
- The international tie-breaker rule started in the eighth and the Red Storm were able to take the lead 3-2
- In the bottom of the eighth, Grayson Buckner was placed on second and moved to third on a sacrifice by Annelisa Winebarger
- After Peyton Bryden drew a walk, she stole second to put two runners in scoring position
- Sophia Lawson stepped up and hit a fly ball to center, which scored Buckner to tie the game
- Bryden raced home on a wild pitch that bounced off the backstop and was able to beat the throw to win the game 4-3
vs. Youngstown St.
- Penguins struck first with a run in the third as Bree Kohler drove home Macy Littler with a single through the right side
- In the fifth the Penguins doubled they loaded the bases and drove in a run on a ground ball to third base that resulted in an error
- Powell worked her way out of the jam not allowing anymore runs with a pop up to second and struck out Kennedy Dean looking to end the threat
- The Eagles had threatened to get on the board a few times throughout the game and finally broke through in the sixth inning
- It started with one out as Mili Watts singled to third and then stole second
- Bryden stepped up and took a 1-0 pitch deep to left for her second home run of the season to tie the game at 2-2
- The Eagles weren't done as Kaylyn Little singled off the pitcher followed by a single to center by Ashlynn Bunn
- Kinsley Peek entered as a pinch-runner at second for Little
- Katie Beck followed with a single to right field, scoring Peek for a 3-2 lead
- Emma Jackson added two more with a single through the right side to plate Beck and Bunn
- Tia Beckham added some insurance with a sacrifice fly to right to score Jackson
- Emmy Cardenas, who entered the game in the top of the sixth, earned the win in the circle by tossing two innings allowing a run on two hits
EXTRA BASES
- The Eagles scored all 10 runs between the 6th and 8th innings of both games combined
- Jackson extended her streak of reaching base to six games as did Winebarger
- Powell also extended her streak which now stands at five straight
- Buckner's single in the top of the first vs. Youngstown State was the 100th of her collegiate career (36 at Winthrop)
ON DECK
Winthrop hits the road for a midweek contest on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in Conway, S.C. as it takes on Coastal Carolina at 4 p.m.
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