Bucs late rally falls short in 8-5 loss to Winthrop

Lionel Greene had two hits for Bucs

CHARLESTON, SC – Winthrop starter Alex Wilson went seven strong innings and the Eagles made seven early runs stand in an 8-5 win over Charleston Southern in Big South Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Buccaneer Field.

Winthrop (36-12, 12-5) takes the first two games of the series with game three set for Sunday at 1 pm. Charleston Southern falls to 17-33 overall, 8-12 in the Big South Conference.

Wilson allowed three runs on five hits through seven innings, striking out 12 and walking five hitters. The right-hander improved to 10-2 on the season with the win.

CSU starter Ryan Sowers (5-5) took the loss, allowing eight runs (four earned) in six innings of work.

Winthrop scored three runs on five singles in the top of the first inning and opened up a 7-0 lead with four unearned runs in the top of the second inning. Those early runs proved more than enough for Wilson, who cruised through the first four innings allowing only one hit.

Trailing, 8-0, in the seventh, the Buccaneers managed three runs with David Perkins picking up two RBI with a bloop single to right. CSU threatened in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. Winthrop closer Jonathan Settle induced a double play ball from Perkins before Chris Krogmeier delivered an RBI single to center to cut the lead to 8-5. Settle got Lionel Greene on a game-ending groundout.

Pacing the Eagles offensively were Phil Carey (two hits, three RBI), Tommy Lentz (three hits, two RBI), Ben Ehrlich (two hits) and Chris Carrara (two hits). Winthrop finished with 14 hits on the day, giving the Eagles 34 hits in the first two games of the series.

Greene, Wes Brundridge and Adam Brown led CSU with two hits each. The Buccaneers finished with 10 hits on the day.