CLINTON, S.C. ? The Presbyterian College softball team narrowly missed out on a doubleheader sweep of Winthrop Wednesday afternoon, dropping the first game 6-5 before winning the second 4-3.

The Blue Hose now stand at 16-17 on the season and are now 4-7 in Big South Conference play. The loss for the Eagles marks their first of the season in conference action.

In game one, Tessa Thomas reached on an error to lead off the first inning. She eventually came around to score on Mallory Hogan's bunt single. With the bases still juiced, Gordon struck out the next batter. The defense stepped up, getting a line-out and a grounder to end the threat.

The visitors extended their lead to two in the second. Pearl Coleshill reached on a fielder's choice and eventually came around to score on Lisa Kingsmore's fielder's choice. Thomas had reached on a walk and moved to second when Laura Tate Owings tried to throw out Coleshill going to second after the previous ball four. However, the ball ricocheted off Coleshill's helmet all the way to the backstop, allowing her to go to third and Thomas to move to second. On Kingsmore's fielder's choice, Thomas was caught in a rundown before being tagged for the second out of the frame.

Winthrop tacked on two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to make the score 5-0 at that point.

With a mere single to show for through the first four frames, the Blue Hose bats came alive in the fifth stanza. Leslie Hensley pinch hit for Brittany Howell, earning a single. She moved to third on Tate Owings' double. Morgan White was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Then, Mary Gordon helped her own cause by singling home Hensley. Amanda Miller then singled home Tate Owings, making the score 5-2 with nobody out.

After the next two batters flew out, Katie Anderson's single to right center plated both White and Gordon, pulling head coach Dave Majeski's team within one, 5-4. That hit chased Megan Evans from the game. PC was unable to knot the score in the frame.

Neither team could score in the sixth while Lisa Kingsmore singled home a run in the seventh to give the Eagles a 6-4 lead.

Down to their last at bat, the Blue Hose were able to get things going. With one down, Miller singled for the fourth straight time. Then, with two away, Taylor Staten looked as if she tied the game on a two-run bomb. However, the ball was ruled foul just by a few inches ? and about 20 feet past the outfield fence. Staten eventually drew a walk to put runners on first and second.

Cari Wooldridge's offering to Anderson was just a bit outside and with the runners going on the pitch. Anderson came through with a single, plating Miller. Staten tried to score, but was thrown out at home, ending the game.

Gordon took the loss and now stands at 4-11. She went five innings, giving up five runs, only three of which were earned. Brittany Howell worked the last two, giving up one run on four hits.

In game two, PC's bats continued to ignite the fire starting in the second frame. With one out, Howell lofted a high, lazy fly ball that cleared the fence by inches as Thompson was hit in the ribcage by the fence while attempting to catch the ball. However, she was unable to and Howell was credited with the four-bag hit.

Two batters later, Morgan White doubled to left center. Miller followed her with a two-run shot, giving PC a 3-0 advantage.

Winthrop looked as if it would get a leadoff hit in the fourth, but Mallory Hogan's looping fly ball was corralled by Miller, who sprinted toward the left field foul line before making an over the shoulder basket catch, saving at least two bases. The defense held, taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the stanza.

In its at bat, Howell picked up her second base hit of the day, singling. Two batters later she scored when White posted her second straight double.

Winthrop plated two runs in the sixth, but it was not enough as the strong pitching performance of Leslie Hensley earned the win.

Hensley went 6.2 innings to earn the win. She is now 10-5 on the year. Howell came in with a runner on second base and two outs in the seventh to earn the save. All she needed was one pitch to get Kingsmore to line out to Amanda Miller to end the game. The save marked the first of her young PC career.

For the game, Howell and White each had two hits while Miller, Tate Owings, Kayla Handy, Anderson and Hensley all notched one.

The Blue Hose return to action Friday when they host Longwood at 2 p.m.