#3 Winthrop Eliminates #4 Gardner-Webb in 15 innings, 10-9
By Winthrop Athletics
HIGH POINT, N.C. – In the longest game in Big South Tournament history, third-seeded Winthrop defeated fourth-seeded Gardner-Webb in the first elimination game of the second day of the tournament at Truist Point by a final score of 10-9 in 15 innings on Nicholas Badillo's walk-off single. The Eagles move to 28-27 overall with the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gardner-Webb started the game with a two-run RBI single. The Eagles responded by scoring the next four runs, capped off by Ramses Cordova's RBI single.
The Runnin' Bulldogs re-took the lead by scoring five runs in the top of the second to go up 7-4 but Ricky Teel highlighted the defensive half of the inning for the Eagles with an incredible catch on the warning track.
Winthrop then jumped back out in front 9-7 when Nicholas Badillo was able to score despite Will Martin being caught trying to steal second base, capping a five-run bottom of the fourth for the Eagles.
But Gardner-Webb tied it in the top of the ninth, giving Winthrop a chance to win it in their half of the ninth.
Winthrop failed to capitalize, sending the game to extra innings and setting the stage for Badillo's success in the 15th inning.
The winning run was Winthrop's first run since the fourth inning.
ON DECK
Winthrop will face the loser of top seeded Campbell and second seeded USC Upstate later tonight at a time TBD in another elimination game.