CLINTON, S.C. - Presbyterian College came out strong but was ultimately outdueled by strong bats and tough pitching as Winthrop earned a 9-2 win over the Blue Hose in both teams' Big South curtain raiser.

PC (12-6, 0-1 BSC) struck for two runs in the first inning. The first tally came off a bloop single to right by Rachel Parker to push leadoff batter Morgan Durham home. The game's second run came when Krysten Handy rifled a ball down the right field line to score Amanda Miller. The Blue Hose would strand two runners in scoring position to end the inning. 

Winthrop (14-10, 1-0 BSC) went quietly in both the first and second innings until Pearl Coleshill opened the Eagles' scoring account with a single up the middle to score Teja Durante. Two more runs would cross on a double to centerfield later in the inning.

Winthrop would go on to score two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to ultimately chase PC's starting pitcher, Leslie Hensley. The sophomore exited after four and a third innings of work and allowing eight runs, all earned off ten hits. Both the eight runs and the ten hits are the most allowed by Hensley this season.

The Eagles tacked on an insurance run in the seventh after a two-base error put a runner on second base which was brought home off a double to centerfield.

Winthrop's starting pitcher Cari Wooldridge settled down after allowing the two runs in the first to set the next 17 Blue Hose batters in order. Handy bucked the trend when she posted PC's third and final hit of the game to open the bottom of the seventh. The successive infield grounders ended the game.

Wooldridge improved to 8-7 with the win while Hensley falls to 4-3 with the loss.

The Blue Hose will look for revenge in a week's time as PC travels to face Winthrop in Rock Hill for a doubleheader starting on Wednesday at 5 p.m. In the meantime, PC will face Gardner-Webb in a matinee doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Noon in Boiling Springs, N.C.