No. 4 Winthrop Knocks Off Radford & USC Upstate, Advances to Title Game

No. 4 Winthrop Knocks Off Radford & USC Upstate, Advances to Title Game

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Freshman Bella Roy tossed a complete game to lead Winthrop to a 2-1 victory over second-seeded USC Upstate, Friday evening at the 2019 Big South Conference Softball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting. The victory puts the Eagles in Saturday's championship against top-seeded Longwood at 10 a.m.
 
The Eagles opened the day with a walk-off 4-3 win over 6th-seeded Radford to advance to the evening's elimination game.

GAME INFORMATION
RECORDS: Winthrop (29-24, 14-10 Big South) | Radford (25-34, 12-12 Big South) | USC Upstate (41-15, 18-6 Big South)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Bella Roy (Win, CG, 6H, R, 0ER, 5BB) | Kiley Majette (Win, 4.2IP, 2H, BB, 3K) | Morgan Lowers (3-9, R, 2B, 2RBI) | Blake Wallert (3-7, 2R, 2 3B, RBI, BB)
 
WHAT HAPPENED
vs. USC Upstate
  • The Spartans grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning courtesy of a throwing error
  • Brittany Case led off with a single and moved to second on a ground out
  • Then some miscommunication by the Eagles defensively led to the run
  • Case took off to steal third successfully and Logan Webb anticipated someone to cover the bag on the throw but nobody was there as the throw went into the outfield and Case scored on the play
  • Eagles responded immediately in the top of the fifth inning as Sabrina Shroades and Ansley Gilreath started the inning off with back-to-back singles
  • With one out, Blake Wallert stepped in and singled to load the bases
  • Morgan Lowers tied the game with an single to score Shroades and then Westbrooks drove in the eventual game-winning run on a fielder's choice as Wallert scored
  • Bella Roy allowed at least one baserunner in every inning but battled the league's second best scoring offense, holding them to one run
  • Roy tossed a complete game allowing the one unearned run on six hits to earn her fourth win of the year
  • The Eagles were able to defeat Big South Conference Pitcher of the Year Christina Biggerstaff for the second time this season as she took the loss allowing two runs on five hits in four innings of relief
vs. Radford
  • Radford jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first
  • Sydney Fisher drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a single by Hannah Medlam and scored on a single by Talia Douglas
  • Eagles grabbed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning
  • Gilreath singled with one away and then two batters later Wallert tied the game on a 2-out triple to left center
  • Lowers followed with an RBI single through the right side for the lead
  • Radford regained the lead in the sixth inning as Hunter Mundy delivered a two-run single up the middle for a 3-2 lead
  • Winthrop tied the game in the bottom half as Lowers doubled with one out and then with two outs stole third
  • After Keleigh Romine drew a walk, Brooke Ellison singled to left to score Lowers and tie the game
  • Eagles missed a great chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh as they loaded the bases with one out by Lowers popped out to short and Westbrooks flied out to left to end the threat
  • In the bottom of the ninth Wallert tripled with two outs and Lowers lined one that center that had a chance to drop by center fielder Destiny Freeman made a diving catch to rob the base hit and keep the game alive
  • Westbrooks led off the 10th with a single to left, stole second with one out and then moved to third on a ground out
  • Winthrop head coach Windy Thees went to the bench and turned to Shroades as a pinch-hitter and she delivered with a single to plate Westbrooks for the walk-off win
  • Shroades hit a slow roller to the hole at first, as the first baseman went to her right to field the grounder, Shroades hustled and beat everyone to the bag including the throw for the infield single as Westbrooks scored the winning run
  • Kiley Majette tossed 4.1 innings of relief allowing no runs on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts to earn her 10th win of the year
EXTRA BASES
  • Playing for a Big South title for the first time since 2013
  • This is the second time the Eagles have advanced to the championship game as the 4th seed
  • Making 13th Big South championship game appearance, tying Coastal Carolina for most in league history
  • This was just the third time the Eagles were involved in an extra inning game in the Big South Conference Tournament
  • Eagles are now 2-1 in extra innings during the conference tournament
  • Wallert had two triples in the game against Radford, the second Eagle to do so this season (Lowers vs. Omaha)