#1 Winthrop Advances to Championship Game with 9-2 Win over #5 Gardner-Webb

#1 Winthrop Advances to Championship Game with 9-2 Win over #5 Gardner-Webb

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By Winthrop Athletics

Spartanburg, S.C. – Winthrop capped off day three of the 2026 Big South Conference Championship with a 9-2 win over fifth-seeded Gardner-Webb to advance to Saturday's championship game. The Eagles dropped their first game of the day to second-seeded USC Upstate, 5-1.

WHAT HAPPENED
vs. (5) Gardner-Webb
  • Runnin' Bulldogs struck in the top of the first as Reese Collier doubled to left center with one out and then scored on a double down the left field line by Alli Stidham
  • Eagles answered right back in the bottom of the first as Rebecca Amos and Nickens each drew a walk
  • Beckham stepped up and took the first pitch out of the park in left center for a 3-1 lead
  • Eagles added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth as Winebarger led off with a solo shot to center
  • Winthrop eventually loaded the bases with two outs in the inning as Nickens came to the plate but grounded out to the short to end the threat
  • Stidham led off the top of the sixth with a home run to left to cut the Eagle lead in half at 4-2
  • Eagles tacked on more runs in the bottom of the sixth as Emma Roberson drew a leadoff walk and then scored from first on a double to right center by Amos
  • Bryden followed with a double to right center to plate Amos and lead 6-2
  • Winthrop added three more runs to take a seven run advantage into the seventh
  • Addison worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to earn her 19th win in the circle on the season
EXTRA BASES
  • This is the third straight year the Eagles advanced to the Big South Championship game, four of the last six tournaments and 16th all-time
  • Winthrop earned 30 wins for the first time since 2019 (Eagles advanced to title game that season as well)
  • Winebarger and Beckham each homered on the day for their 11th of the season, tying them for the 4th most in a single-season by an Eagle
  • Beckham surpassed 40 RBI on the year, becoming just the second Eagle in program history with more than one season with 40 or more (Christine Yon)
  • She now leads the team with 44 while Bryden is at 43 followed by Nickens at 42
  • It's only the second time an Eagle team had three players with 40 or more RBI in season (2007 was the first)
  • Addison's 19th win on the season is the most by an Eagle in the circle since Megan Evans had 18 in 2008
ON DECK
Winthrop will face second-seeded USC Upstate on Saturday, May 9 at 12 p.m. in the championship game. The Eagles will have to win twice to claim the title.