N. Charleston, S.C. – Winthrop softball powered its way to wins of 11-1 and 5-3 at Charleston Southern on Saturday to complete the series sweep.
GAME INFORMATION
RECORD: Winthrop (21-16, 7-2 Big South) | Charleston Southern (6-30, 1-8 Big South)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Annelisa Winebarger (2-8, 2R, 2HR, 6RBI) |
Tia Beckham (5-7, 3R, 2 HR, 2RBI) |
Emmy Cardenas (W, CG, 6H, R, 0BB, 2K) |
Grayson Buckner (5-7, 2R, 3B, RBI) |
Peyton Bryden (2-7, 3R, 2B, HR, 4RBI)
WHAT HAPPENED
Game 1
- Eagles struck first as Rebbecca Amos led off the game with a single followed by Peyton Byrden drawing a walk
- After Darrah Nickens moved both runners over a base on a ground out, Annelisa Winebarger stepped up and laced a home run down the left field line for a 3-0 lead
- Grayson Buckner singled followed by walks by Mili Watts and Tabitha Perry loaded the bases with two outs
- Emma Roberson drew a bases loaded walk on a full count to plate Buckner for a 4-0 lead
- The Eagles doubled their lead in the third inning as Tia Beckham drew a leadoff walk to set the table
- Buckner followed with a bunt single and then her and Beckham moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Watts
- Two batters later Robers singled to score Beckham
- Amos walked to load the bases and then Bryden cleared the bases with a double down the left field line to lead 8-0
- The Bucs got on the board in the bottom of the third as Lorenzza Marcacci led off with a triple to center and then scored on a ground out by Emma Villaescusa to second base
- The Eagles tacked on three more in the sixth as Winebarger went yard for the second time, another three-run shot to lead 11-1
Game 2
- Jordyn Dimond and Blakley Kingsmore started the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners
- Kingsmore stole second to get into scoring position
- Harper Schoeneweis and Carsten Sandvig had back-to-back RBI ground outs to take a 2-0 lead
- In the top of the third the Eagles cut the deficit in half as Amos walked and then stole second
- Darrah Nickens came through as she laced a single to center to score Amos
- In the top of the fourth, Beckham led off with a home run to left center to tie the game
- Buckner followed with a triple to right to give the Eagles a good chance to take the lead
- Mili Watts laid down a squeeze bunt as Buckner raced home, but the catcher picked up the ball and turned around to tag Buckner right before she slid into home plate for the out
- In top of the sixth, Beckham led off the winning with her second home run of the game with this one over the fence in centerfield to lead 3-2
- In the top of the seventh with one out, Bryden hit the first pitch she saw over the fence in left for a 4-2 lead
- Winebarger reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a single to right by Beckham
- Buckner singled up the middle to plate Winebarger from second as Beckham moved third on the play and Buckner moved to second on the throw
- Watts followed by a drawing a walk to load the bases for Tabitha Perry
- Perry sliced a pitch down the line in left, but Dimond made a diving catch for the final out to end the threat
EXTRA BASES
- In game one of the doubleheader, Winebarger hit two home runs which is the second game this season she's hit two
- Her six RBI in the first game of the day were a career-high and the first Eagle with six in a game since Ansley Gilreath on Mar. 6, 2021 at Georgia Southern
- Winebarger has six home runs during league play, the first Eagle with six against Big South competition Taylor Charlton in 2021
- Beckham had her second four-hit game of the season and third of her career
- Bryden reached base in both games, extending her streak of reaching base safely to 13 straight games
- This was the first road sweep in league play since 2022 at Gardner-Webb
- Eagles have won six straight after back-to-back conference series sweeps
- It is the first time since the 2008 season the Eagles have swept back-to-back Big South series
- The Eagles are off to their best start in league play at 7-2 since the 2009 team started 8-1
- The Bucs added a run in the bottom of the seventh as Marcacci doubled to lead off and scored on a double by Cadence Walding
ON DECK
Winthrop steps away from league action for its next two games beginning Tuesday, Mar. 31 when it hosts UNC Greensboro at 5 p.m.
STAY SOCIAL WITH THE EAGLES
Keep up with all the latest news and everything Winthrop softball by following us on our social accounts –
Twitter |
Facebook |
Instagram
