Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop scored a season-high in runs, including 11 in the fourth inning, as the Eagles romped to a 17-3 victory in the series finale with Villanova Sunday afternoon.
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
- Gabe Natividad (2-3, 4 R, RBI)
- Jaylen Hernandez (2-4, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2-Run HR)
- Colin Crowley (1-4, R, 2 RBI)
- Ethan Wilson (2-5, R, 6 RBI, HR, 3B, 3-Run HR)
- Chancellor Jennings (2-4, 2 R, 2B)
- Dusty Vela (1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 2B)
W:
Brayden Gilley (1-1)
L: Bobby Finn (0-1)
S: N/A
HOW IT HAPPENED
- On just the second play of the game, Jaylen Hernandez clobbered a two-run home run to right field with no one out
- A few plays later, Winthrop loaded the bases with two outs after Nate Chronis drew a walk but Chancellor Jennings struck out to end Winthrop's first chance to further extend their lead
- Villanova tied the game with one out in the second on Jake McElroy's two-run homer
- Winthrop took a 4-2 lead in their half of the inning on Hernandez's RBI single to left field with no one out and Colin Crowley's fielder's choice with two outs
- Winthrop put up 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth to blow the game open, leading 15-2 at the end of the inning
- The highlight was Ethan Wilson's three-run home run to left center field with no one out
- Winthrop also had four players hit by pitch
- Nine of Winthrop's 11 runs in the frame occurred with one out
- In the top of the fifth, the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out after Connor Hale drew a walk but Eagle relief pitcher Brayden Gilley retired the next two batters to end the threat
- Michael Wooley homered to left field for Villanova in the sixth, making it a 12-run game
- Eagles scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh for a two-touchdown lead on Dusty Vela's RBI groundout and Chazz Grossington's sac fly to right field
TEAM TIDBITS
- Winthrop moves to 1,385-1,003-7 all-time as a program
- Winthrop moves to 874-400-4 all-time at home
ON DECK
Winthrop hits the road for the first time this year, traveling to Clemson for a mid-week matchup with the Tigers on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 4:00 p.m. The game will be televised on ACCNX.