ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth and Gardner-Webb fell 8-4 in the Big South Conference series rubber match on the road Sunday.
The game's start was delayed by more than three hours due to thunderstorms in the area.
The Eagles (11-14, 2-4 Big South) jumped on top quickly, scoring four runs on four hits and an error in the top of the first.
Gardner-Webb (15-8, 4-2 Big South) starter
Casey Young settled down on the mound and kept Winthrop scoreless until the Runnin' Bulldogs could muster up a rally in the top of the fourth.
Nate Anderson and
Humberto Torres each coaxed walks with one out in the frame and
Max Smyley came through with a two-run single to cut Winthrop's early lead in half.
Jacob Marcos then pulled a double down the left field line to drive in Smyley.
Curtis Robison came through went an infield single, but Marcos was called out at the plate to end the inning.
Young stayed sharp and Gardner-Webb finally knotted the score in the seventh.
Marcos started that rally with a double into the gap in right center and moved to third on a Robison ground ball.
Mark Black tied the game with an RBI single and
Alec Burns drew a walk, but a pair of pop ups halted the rally before GWU could move in front.
Gardner-Webb loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth, but a hard line drive from Black was caught in right center to end a golden opportunity for the visitors.
Winthrop seized on that momentum in the bottom half, getting a leadoff walk and then rapping out four hits before a double play ended the inning with the home team in front 8-4. The Eagles sent nine men to the plate in the decisive rally.
Gardner-Webb went down in order in the top of the ninth.
Michael Portela (0-1) took the loss, allowing a run in 1.0 inning of relief. Young was strong over 6.1 innings in a no decision start, recovering from a four-run first inning to strike out four and scatter seven hits.
Gardner-Webb stranded 11 runners on Sunday and had seven hits. Marcos (2-for-4) and Black (2-for-4) each had a pair of those safeties. The Runnin' Bulldogs drew eight walks and were hit twice.
Four different Winthrop hitters had two of the Eagles' 11 hits on Sunday.
Gardner-Webb will be back in action on Tuesday night, traveling to Charlotte for a 6:00 pm first pitch in the Queen City.
