No. 4 Winthrop Rallies Past No. 5 Charleston Southern, 6-3
BUIES CREEK, N.C. — A bases clearing double by Morgan Lowers highlighted a five-run sixth inning as Winthrop rallied to defeat Charleston Southern 6-3 in the opening game of the 2019 Big South Conference Softball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting.
BOX SCORE
The Buccaneers grabbed an early lead with two runs in the top of the third. With one out, Brooklynn Brewington reached on a bunt single and then Jade Gandara went opposite field for a two-run home run. The Eagles did respond in the bottom half to cut the deficit in half.
With one out, Taylor Charlton walked and then back-to-back singles by Blake Wallert and Morgan Lowers loaded the bases for Ashley Westbrooks. Westbrooks hit a fly ball to center and Charlton tagged up and scored on the play but was injured sliding home when she collided with the catcher. Charleston Southern got out of the jam as Amanda Pilgrim caught Keleigh Romine looking on a 3-2 count
Madison Koger gave the Bucs a 3-1 lead as she led off the fifth inning with a home run to center. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Madyson Watson was hit by a pitch that started the rally. Kiley Majette came in to pinch-hit for Tori Walker and delivered a double to left center on a 1-2 pitch as Watson hustled all the way around to score and make it a one run game.
Then after Ansley Gilreath was intentionally walked, Logan Webb singled up the middle to tie the game. Wallert followed with a single to load the bases and then Lowers cleared the bases with a double to left center for a 6-3 lead. Majette closed the door on the Bucs in the seventh by retiring the side in order her ninth win of the season and 42nd of her career
The Eagles have trailed heading into the sixth inning in their last four victories, including three straight wins over the Bucs. Lowers has now hit safely in her last 11 conference tournament games and now has nine RBI in 11 career conference tourney contests
The double in the sixth by Lowers was the 30th of her career as she's the 13th player in program history to reach 30 doubles in a career. Lowers now has 81 career RBI, becoming the 18th player in program history with 80 or more in a career.
Majette recorded two strikeouts in relief and now has 479 in her career, 13 behind Cari (Wooldridge) Moore for 5th all-time in program history
Westbrooks had a sacrifice fly in the third inning and now has eight RBI in eight career conference tournament games
The Eagles advance to take on top-seeded Longwood on Thursday, May 9 at noon on day two of the 2019 Big South Conference Softball Championship. The game will air live on ESPN3.