ASHEVILLE, NC – The second-seeded Winthrop Eagles set a Big South Conference Tournament record for runs in a 21-3 win against the fourth-seeded Radford Highlanders on Friday afternoon on day four of the 2009 Royal Purple Big South Conference Baseball Championship at historic McCormick Field in Asheville, NC.
The Eagles improve 34-24 on the season, while the Highlanders season comes to an end with a 26-24 record.
The 21 runs scored are also the most by Winthrop in school tournament history. It was the largest margin of victory in a tournament game for the Eagles and also tied the tournament record for margin of victory set in 1986 by Coastal Carolina.
The previous mark in school history came in 1999 when the Eagles defeated Liberty 13-0.
“I’m proud of my guys,” said head coach Joe Hudak. “We came ready to play and hit the ball well today.”
Wade Newman (7-4) earned the victory allowing three runs on eight hits, three walks and four strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. Abram Williams (2-5) took the loss pitching 1.2 innings giving up five runs on seven hits and no walks.
“Wade Newman pitched really well today,” said Hudak. “He gave us a good outing – we needed it.”
Radford jumped out to a 1-0 lead over the Eagles in the top of the first inning on a RBI single to center field by Alex Gregory scoring Matt Hillsinger from second base. Hillsinger singled to right field prior to Gregory and moved to second on a wild pitch.
Winthrop scored five runs in the bottom of the second after sending 10 batters to plate and making it a 5-1 game. Tyler McBride drove in Matt Thielepape for the first run of the inning on his RBI single to center field after Thielepape led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by John Murrian and went to third on a throwing error by the third baseman after Sean Sullivan singled. Sullivan later scored after Kevin Nolan hit into a fielder’s choice. Nolan then came home along with McBride on a two-run double to left field by Bryn Henderson. Eddie Tisdale followed Henderson with a RBI double to left field scoring Henderson.
The Eagles increased its lead to 8-1 in the third inning after adding three more runs that started with Thielepape leading off the inning with a single to right field. Murrian then attempted to sacrifice Thielepape over to second, but an error allowed Thielepape to score from first and Murrian went to third. Murrian later scored after Nolan singled to left center field. Cam Walters would score the final run of the inning coming home on a wild pitch. Walters was hit by a pitch in his at-bat.
The Highlanders cut the deficit to 8-3 in the top of the fifth on a two-run double to center field by Rick Hoogstraten scoring Reggie Keen and Gregory. Keen reached on a double to left field and Gregory was hit by a pitch. Both would advance one base each after Robert Lamas’ infield single.
Winthrop answered back for two runs of their own in the fifth to go back ahead 10-3. Henderson started the run-scoring for Winthrop as he stole third base and was able to come home after a throwing error by the catcher. Eddie Rohan then singled home Tisdale from second on a hit-and-run after Tisdale was intentionally walked and stole second base when Henderson stole third and scored.
The Eagles scored five more runs in the sixth inning for a 15-3 lead highlighted by a three-run home run by Henderson to right field. Walters and Nolan scored on the blast after Walters singled to right field and Nolan walked. Rohan then drove Tisdale in with on an RBI single to center field. Tony Brunetti came in to pinch-run for Roan and later scored on a RBI groundout by Murrian.
Winthrop plated four more runs in the seventh inning to put the score at 19-3. The inning started off with McBride hitting a leadoff solo home run to right field for his first homer of the season. Brunetti then worked an RBI bases-loaded walk scoring Nolan, who singled earlier in the inning. Aaron Bonomi followed Brunetti with a RBI sacrifice fly to left field that scored Henderson after his base hit to right field. Sullivan drove in the last run of the seventh with his RBI single. Tisdale, who singled, came home on the base hit.
Henderson homered for the second time during the game in the bottom of the eighth with his two-run blast to center field to increase the Eagles lead to 21-3. Nolan also scored on the homer after he singled to center field.
Winthrop was led offensively by Henderson with a 5-for-6 performance on the afternoon with seven RBI and the two home runs. Henderson also tied a school record for hits and runs scored in a game. Nolan added four hits, while Tisdale, Thielepape and Sullivan had three hits apiece. Brett Mollenhauer had two hits for Radford and Hoogstraten added two RBI.
“It was a great offensive show,” Hudak added. “We are happy to be playing tomorrow.”
The Eagles will return to action on Saturday, May 23 at 1 p.m. as they will take on third-seeded Liberty. If the Eagles defeat the Flames in the first game, their opponent for game two will depend on the outcome of the Liberty/Coastal Carolina game this evening. If the Flames win, Winthrop will take on Liberty immediately following the first game. If the Chanticleers win, the Eagles will play Coastal Carolina.
