CLINTON, S.C. – The first of six series within the realm of Big South Conference play will occur this weekend for the Presbyterian College Softball team, going head-to-head with familiar foe Winthrop in a standard three-game set. PC will joust with the Eagles in a 1:00 doubleheader on Saturday, transitioning to Game 3 on Sunday at 2:00 PM.

ESPN+ will have live coverage of the entire series as Presbyterian aims to defeat their Palmetto rival at least twice for the third consecutive year, downing Winthrop in back-to-back order after dropping the first bout last spring in Rock Hill.

The Blue Hose were last seen in Cullowhee on Tuesday for the final non-conference push until league outings commence, unable to snare the W in a high-scoring two-parter against Western Carolina.

PC cleared the fence three times in the DH while managing 10 runs altogether, returning home tomorrow with a mark of 8-17.

 
GAMEDAY INFO – SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Presbyterian (8-17) vs. Winthrop (10-14) | 1:00 PM / 3:00 PM
WHERE: PC Softball Complex (Clinton, S.C.)
WATCH (GAME 1): ESPN+
LIVE STATS (GAME 1): Stat Broadcast
WATCH (GAME 2): ESPN+
LIVE STATS (GAME 2): Stat Broadcast

 
GAMEDAY INFO – SUNDAY, MARCH 17
Presbyterian (8-17) vs. Winthrop (10-14) | 2:00 PM
WHERE: PC Softball Complex (Clinton, S.C.)
WATCH: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: Stat Broadcast

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
 
- It's been a tumultuous start to say the least for the Eagles in 2024, bringing in head coach Kendall Fuller over the offseason to direct the program after being at Division II institution Lees-McRae over the past three seasons.

- Returning to Winthrop's staff as the lady in charge after serving as an assistant from 2013-18, Fuller's squad began the campaign with seven victories out of 10 attempts, only to lose their next eight contests over two weeks.

- It seems as if the Eagles have broken out of that February funk, however, headed to Clinton coming off their largest margin of victory this year (an 11-3 win against the Wofford Terriers in Spartanburg).

- Winthrop is well-versed in dramatic finishes, already a part of 12 decisions of two runs or fewer. The Eagles have claimed six W's by a single score, last gaining a result of that caliber back on March 3 in a 5-4 triumph at Georgia State.

- Sharing a similar adversary in '24 once Winthrop had dispelled Wofford, a 5-0 opening inning by PC's upcoming foe presented the Eagles with their first double-digit run count of the semester.

 
LAST TIME OUT
 
- Presby slugged particularly well in Tuesday's doubleheader with the Catamounts, although the roller coaster nature of both outings ended up saddling the squad with two tight defeats.

- Cutting an 11-game homer drought by sending one over the wall on three occasions, PC's trio of longballs by Kelby Goodrum, Kendall Owens, and Mallory Fletcher gave the team an atypical showing versus WCU having fared more in defensive duels thus far.

- The Blue Hose have accumulated a .345 on-base percentage, enhanced even further by successfully stealing 20 times in 21 tries.

- Since joining the Division I ranks in the late 2000's, Presbyterian has locked horns with Winthrop for 45 games (21 of which have been won by the blue and garnet). Head coach David Williams' crew picked up respective wins of 7-2 and 3-1 in Rock Hill last spring, finding three RBI in those two matchups by then-freshman Morgan Farthing.

- PC has bested Winthrop 14 times when competing at home, including a 2022 sweep by a combined nine runs when the Eagles last visited Clinton.