Powell, Eagles Cruise Past Bucs In Opening Game Of Big South Championship

Clinton, S.C. – Megan Powell tossed a four-hit shutout to help Winthrop softball open the Big South Conference Championship with a 6-0 victory over fifth-seeded Charleston Southern, Wednesday evening at the PC Softball Complex.

GAME INFORMATION

RECORD: (4) Winthrop (28-21, 10-8 Big South) | (5) Charleston Southern (20-28, 9-9 Big South)

WINTHROP LEADERS: Megan Powell (W, CG, SHO, 4H, 5BB, K / 0-3, BB) | Tia Beckham (1-4, 2B, 2RBI) | Annelisa Winebarger (2-3, R, 2RBI, 2B, 3B) | Katie Beck (2-3, R, RBI, 2B)

WHAT HAPPENED

• Buccaneers threatened in the top of the first as Weslin Jones led off with a double
• After a walk by Blakley Kingsmore both runners were sacrificed over to put two runners in scoring position
• Megan Powell followed with a line out to third and issued a walk before getting a grounder to first to end the top half
• Eagles threatened in the bottom of the first and were able to take advantage
• Emma Jackson led off with a single and with two outs she stole second to get into scoring position
• Katie Beck came through with a line shot to center just shot of the wall for a double that scored Jackson for a 1-0 lead
• After Peyton Bryden walked to put two runners on, Annelisa Winebarger doubled to left as Beck scored and Bryden raced around from first for a 3-0 lead
• Winthrop doubled its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Winebarger set the table with a leadoff triple to right
• Grayson Buckner followed with a single to shallow left to score Winebarger from third
• Later in the inning with Tabitha Perry and Buckner at second and third, Tia Beckham came through with a double to left center for a 6-0 advantage

EXTRA BASES

• Eagles win their opening game of conference tournament play for a fourth straight time
• Beck’s RBI moves her within three of the freshman record for a season (Tessa Thomas – 34)
• This was the first shutout by a Winthrop team in the conference tournament since May 12, 2017 when it earned an 8-0 win over Charleston Southern
• It was also the 15^th shutout by an Eagle team in a Big South Tournament game
• Eagles finished the game 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position

ON DECK
Eagles advance to take on top-seeded Radford on Thursday, May 8 at 2:30 p.m. in the winner’s bracket of the championship.

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