Bats Come to Life; CSU Still Falls 14-7

Justin Fyle

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The offense was there for the Buccaneers as they took an early lead, but the pitching would not hold up as CSU fell 14-7 in game three against Winthrop. The loss dropped CSU to 16-30 with a 2-13 Big South mark, and was the first time the Bucs have been swept in a series since the March 30 series against Nationally-ranked Coastal Carolina. Winthrop improved to 25-19 with an 11-1 league mark.

Wes Brundridge set the tone for the game with a double to leadoff the game. He would score on a Justin Fyle single. A sacrifice bunt by Stephen Herzog set up the second run of the inning as Fyle came around to score on an Anthony Hayes single.

A three-run homerun would put Winthrop on top after one, but CSU would answer in the second to go up 5-3. Mark Perry led off the second with a single, coming around to score on Lionel Greene’s team-leading fourth triple of the season. Greene would score, along with Brundridge on a Fyle double.

Winthrop again had an answer, scoring five in the bottom of the second to put the Eagles back on top for good. The two teams would trade runs in the fourth as Brundridge and Fyle did it again. Brundridge reached on a double to right-center, scoring on a single up the middle by Fyle.

The Bucs would cut the lead to 9-7 in the fifth as 12 of their 16 hits came in the first five innings. Keith Stewart led off the inning with a single, and scored on an infield base hit by Greene.

The Bucs would use a total of seven pitchers in the loss as Winthrop pulled away late. Brandon Roberts took the decision, giving up five runs in two-thirds of an inning. Offensively, every Buccaneer reached base safely, with Fyle leading the way with a four-for-five performance, knocking in four RBI. Brundridge was two-for-four, scoring three times.

CSU will take finals week off before returning to action May 7 as they head to Campbell to make up a game that was cancelled earlier in the season due to rain.