SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Winthrop University baseball team erupted for six runs in the eighth inning to retake the lead and held on for a 14-12 victory over Sacramento State on Friday evening at John Smith Field.
GAME INFORMATION
RECORD:
Winthrop (16-7) | Sacramento State (9-14)
WINTHROP LEADERS: Gabe Nativity (3-for-6, HR, 3 RBI, SB) | Josh Skowronski (3-for-4, double, 3 RBI, 2 walks, 2 SB) | Alan Benhardt (3-for-5, 3 RBI, SF) | Grant McGuire (3-for-5, 2 RBI, SB) | Cornelius Wouters (2-for-5, double, 2 RBI, walk, SB)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Natividad launched a solo homer on the second pitch of the game and McGuire added an RBI single later in the first for a 2-0 lead
- Grossington doubled to lead off the second and scored on a Natividad RBI single before Skowronski tripled down the right field line to make it 4-0
- Luke Earnhardt held Sacramento State scoreless through four innings before the Hornets strung together three runs in the fifth to cut it to 4-3
- Winthrop answered right back with three in the fifth as Benhardt and Wouters ripped back-to-back RBI singles and Crowley added an RBI groundout to push it to 7-3
- Sacramento State tied the game at 7-7 with four in the seventh, aided by two Winthrop errors
- The Eagles came right back with a massive six-run eighth, sending 10 batters to the plate and chasing Sacramento State reliever Sean Carey without recording an out
- Natividad, Skowronski, Benhardt, Wouters and McGuire all drove in runs during the inning as Winthrop took a 13-7 lead
- Benhardt added another RBI single in the ninth for a 14-7 cushion
- Sacramento State made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth as Jakob Poturnak crushed a grand slam and Ayden Hadley doubled home another to cut it to 14-12
- Ben Rehkow entered and retired the final two batters to earn the save
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- McNeely earned his fourth win despite allowing five runs in the ninth
- Winthrop collected 18 hits, its highest total of the season, with five players recording three hits apiece
- Natividad’s leadoff homer set the tone early, his first blast of the season, as he finished 3-for-6 with three RBI
- Skowronski continued his torrid on-base stretch, reaching five times with three hits and two walks
- The Eagles improved to 16-7 and have won six of their last seven games
ON DECK
The Eagles head to Sacramento, taking on the Hornets for a three-game series starting on Thursday
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To keep up with the latest news on the Winthrop baseball program, follow the Eagles on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
