Winthrop scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh to erase a five-run deficit and take the 8-7 over the Presbyterian College softball team in Big South action Tuesday afternoon in Rock Hill, S.C.
PC drops to 20-18 overall and 9-7 in the Big South, while the Eagles improve to 21-23, 10-9. The Blue Hose step out of conference play with a 2 p.m., doubleheader Wednesday, April 22, against Western Carolina at the PC Softball Complex.
Trailing by five, 7-2, heading to the seventh, Winthrop used a single and four walks to cut the margin to 7-4 with two outs. Leah Young laced a two-RBI double to center to make it 7-6. The next at-bat, Kristy Noble hit a base hit up the middle to score two more as the Eagles rallied for the one-run win.
Winthrop scored its first two runs off a two-run home run by Haley Zuehlke in the fourth inning.
PC took an early 3-0 lead in the third off a RBI double by Shelby Petik and a two-run home run by Erin Ruff, her team-leading seventh of the season. Blaire Miller made it 4-0 in the top of the fourth off a RBI base hit that plated Rogers, who was on base off a single to third.
The Blue Hose made it 5-2 with a solo home run by Hope Rogers, her second, in the sixth inning.
A Sacrifice fly by Petik and a RBI double by Erin Taylor in the top of the seventh gave the Blue Hose the 7-2 lead, setting up the Eagles rally in the bottom of the frame.
PC recorded nine hits, with Jill McLean and Rogers pacing the team with two each. Leading the team in RBI were Petik and Ruff, both of whom finished with two apiece. Katie Brown took the loss for PC (3-1) after giving up the game-winning run. Kensley Loudermelk started for the Blue Hose and went 6.2 innings, giving up seven earned runs off five hits.
Winthrop posted seven hits, with Shayna Covington posting two of them. Young, Zuehlke and Noble each recorded two RBI each to pace the Eagles. Sutton Watson (6-6) took the win for PC, going 3.0 innings, surrendering three runs off four hits.
Winthrop 8, Presbyterian College 7 (Apr 21, 2015 at Rock Hill, SC)
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Presbyterian College 003 101 2 - 7 9 1 (20-18, 9-7 BSC)
Winthrop............ 000 200 6 - 8 7 0 (21-23, 10-9 BSC)
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Pitchers: Presbyterian College - LOUDERMELK, Kensley; BROWN, Katie(7) and TAYLOR, Erin.
Winthrop - KING, D.; WATSON, S.(5) and HALEY, P..
Win-WATSON, S.(6-6) Loss-BROWN, Katie(2-1) T-1:51 A-49
HR PC - RUFF, Erin (7); ROGERS, Hope (2).
HR WINTHROP - ZUEHLKE, H. (4).
Weather: 70 degrees, P-Cloudy, W 10 mph
BROWN, K. faced 2 batters in the 7th.
