The #6-seed Presbyterian College softball team used a six-run third inning and solid defense to take the 6-1 win over #3 Winthrop Thursday eveningin the opening game of the Big South Softball Tournament, presented by Musco Lighting.
PC, which improves to 23-24 overall, faces #2 Coastal Carolina Friday at 4:30 p.m., with Winthrop, now 25-24, playing #7 Campbell in an elimination game. At 11:30 a.m.
The Blue Hose opened the third with a walk by Jill McLean. Jenna Harris reached on a Winthrop error, with Shelby Petik earning her second walk in a row to load the bases with no outs. Erin Ruff collected her 25th RBI off a fielder's choice, with an error keeping the outs clear.
Kersten Legacki, Hope Rogers, Erin Taylor and Katie Brown all recorded RBI as the Blue Hose racked up four singles in a roll to give PC the quick 5-1 lead. Blaire Miller made it 6-1 with a sacrifice fly to right. A ground-out and strike out finally ended the inning but not before the six-run damage was done.
Winthrop struck first as Haley Zuehlke, her fifth of the season, to give the Eagles the early 1-0 lead in the second inning.
McLean opened the first inning with a single to become the PC Division I leader in career hits with 191.
Dallas King, who replaced Sara Allen in the circle in the third, settled down the next three innings, not allowing a hit and just one base runner. Kensley Loudermelk retired the side the fourth and fifth innings as neither team could muster much offense after the early stages of the game.
Winthrop bats woke up a little in the bottom of the sixth with a couple of singles. It was for naught as the next two batters lined out and grounded out to end the inning and threat.
PC threatened again in the seventh with an error that put Rogers on base and single by Taylor to put runners in scoring position. The next two batters struck out and popped up to quell the rally.
Defense was crucial in the bottom of the seventh as Winthrop attempted to come back but a ground out to third, a fly out to left put two outs on the board. Loudermelk came through again at the end, striking out her fifth batter to give PC the 6-1 win.
Loudermelk (13-9) was strong in seven innings for PC, allowing just one run off five hits. Six batters collected hits for PC, with Taylor pacing the team with two. As a team the Blue Hose recorded seven hits and no errors.
Allen took the loss for Winthrop (10-9) after giving up three earned runs off four hits. Five different Eagles had hits, with Zuehlke pacing the team with her one RBI.
Presbyterian College 6, Winthrop 1 (May 07, 2015 at Buies Creek, N.C.)
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Presbyterian College 006 000 0 - 6 7 0 (23-24)
Winthrop............ 010 000 0 - 1 5 4 (25-24)
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Pitchers: Presbyterian College - LOUDERMELK, Kensley and . Winthrop - ALLEN, Sara;
KING, Dallas(3); WATSON, Sutton(7) and .
Win-LOUDERMELK, Kensley(13-9) Loss-ALLEN, Sara(10-9) T-2:02 A-0
HR WINTHROP - ZUEHLKE, Haley (5).
Weather: Clear, 77F
Game: PC0507
