ROCK HILL, S.C. - Presbyterian College softball was
able to keep pace with Winthrop but ultimately fell to the Eagles, 2-1 and 4-3
on Wednesday night to conclude the season series between the Blue Hose and
Eagles. PC falls to 13-9 overall and 1-4 in league play with the defeats while
Winthrop improves to 20-11 and 3-0 in the Big South.
The day's
opening game was a far cry from the first meeting between the teams. A week ago,
Winthrop took a 9-2 victory over PC. In contrast, Wednesday's first game was a
nine-inning pitcher's duel.
Brittany
Howell got the start for PC and worked six and a third innings in the circle. She
scattered six hits in the outing and allowed only one run which came in the
fourth inning. Howell also struck out four batters in the game.
Batting from
behind for the first time in the top of the fifth, Krysten Handy laced a home
run to left field, equalizing the game at 1-1. The long-ball was her second of
the season.
Leslie
Hensley came in for the Blue Hose with two-down in the seventh and recorded a
blank inning and two thirds of work before Winthrop was able to tally the
winning run with two down in the ninth. The Eagles utilized the international
tiebreaker rule, using a single through the left side to bring home the runner
which was placed on second base to open the inning.
Hensley was
saddled with the loss to fall to 4-5 on the year while Winthrop's Evans
improves to 8-3 on the year. PC grabbed six hits in the game including a team
high two from Taylor Staten.
The second
game started with four runs in the first two frames off starting pitcher Mary
Gordon. She gave up the four runs, two earned off three hits. Gordon settled
down to not allow a hit over the final four innings.
The Blue
Hose scored three runs in the top of the sixth thanks to a home run from Staten.
Her fourth home run of the season cut the lead down to one run with just an
inning and a half left to play.
Gordon
tossed a blank sixth stanza to give PC an opportunity to force Winthrop to the
plate in the seventh. Rachel Parker walked to start the seventh and a sacrifice
bunt by Amanda Miller was able to advance pinch runner Becca Caldwell over to
second base. However, consecutive strikeouts ended the game.
Gordon took
the loss and allowed just one hit past the first inning. She struck out five but walked five to fall
to 6-3 on the season. Winthrop's Woodridge improves to 11-7 and takes her
second win over PC this season.
The Blue
Hose will return home this weekend for a three-game set against Charleston
Southern. The three-game set gets underway with a Friday doubleheader at 2 p.m.
and concludes on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. start.
