ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop scored 12 runs in the middle three innings to stave off a late rally game by Longwood in a 15-7 final Saturday at the Winthrop Ballpark.
 
Longwood (6-15, 1-5 Big South) plated a run in the fourth to take the lead from the Big South preseason favorite Winthrop (12-13, 6-0 Big South) before the Eagles took the lead and created separation in the middle innings. The Lancers rallied to score six runs in the final three innings as Longwood tied a season high with 13 hits.
 
Sammy Miller led the offense as the senior captain picked up a multi-hit game for the Lancers, going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, tying his career high in swipes.
 
"That's the Sammy Miller we've all been expecting," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said. "I challenged the seniors in the lineup prior to the game and I thought all three of them responded. It's definitely something we can build upon with those guys."
 
Longwood's three senior hitters – Miller, Justin Mitchell, and Ryan Shull – each finished with a solid day at the plate. Mitchell reached base twice with a single and one walk drawn, and Shull came up with a pinch-hit two-run double off the wall in right.
 
"I thought the top of our lineup really swung the bat well," Mau said. "Obviously with Sammy's day, but Justin also took some really good swings. Nate Blakeney had three outstanding swings on the baseball, but unfortunately only has the one double to show for it. I really like where those three are headed offensively."
 
Winthrop relief pitcher Colten Rendon (2-2) picked up the win with 4.0 innings of three-run ball in what was a designated staff day for both teams.
 
Tyler Morgan (1-2) took the loss after allowing six runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work with three strikeouts and three walks issued. Morgan left the game with an apparent leg injury in the fifth inning after a line drive back to the mound hit him.
 
The Lancers used seven pitchers in the outing, anchored by the first appearance by freshman Daniel Brandon since February 23 as the southpaw retired the only two hitters faced to end the home half of the eighth inning.
 
"On the mound we threw two sophomores and four freshmen today," Mau said. "It was good to see Daniel Brandon get back out there and have some success. He's been working hard and I'm glad to see it pay off in that short outing at the back end of the game."
 
The Lancers were gifted an extra out in the fourth inning and took advantage to take the lead. With the bases clear and two outs Antwaun Tucker reached on a wild pitch on a strikeout, just beating out a throw from Winthrop catcher Alex Raines. After Tucker stole second base Jawan McAllister doubled to left to bring in Tucker.
 
Winthrop took the lead in the next half inning. Grant English singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth to break up a string of 2.1 hitless innings by Morgan. The next batter, Dillon Morton, walked. With two on and one out, Hunter Lipscomb homered to right to give Winthrop a 3-1 lead.
 
The Eagles extended the lead in the fifth inning with a four-run frame. After Scout McFalls walked with one out and Brandon Fite was hit by pitch, Mitch Spires hit a line drive back up the middle that hit off of Morgan. The play went down as an RBI single to make it 4-1 Winthrop. The Eagles added to the lead in the inning with a two-run triple by English and Morton followed with a single to plate English.
 
Winthrop then rallied for five in the sixth to build the lead to 12-1, but the Lancers were unrelenting at the plate in the last part of the ballgame, placing 12 baserunners aboard in the final third of the day.
 
"It's good for our confidence offensively that we can swing the bat and produce some runs late in the game," Mau said. "Obviously we would have loved if that had happened earlier for us, but we had two choices with the score being what it was and that was to rollover or to fight. I'm proud that we fought and we were able to scrap and score six runs in the back three."
 
The Lancers continued to attack at the plate and sparked two run-scoring rallies late in the game. Eli Mercado, Miller, and Mitchell each reached on singles to load the bases with one out in the top of the seventh. Blakeney brought in a run on a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners with one out. Eric Crain moved the line along with an RBI single to right for Longwood's first multi-run inning since the first inning of Friday's game one.
 
After Longwood placed a pair on in the eighth, the Lancer broke through with more offense in the final frame. Blakeney led off the ninth frame with a double off the wall in left-center. After Tyler Mahone walked and Nathan Iskowitz singled to load the bases with no outs, Shull doubled to right to bring in a pair of runs. Grant Keller followed up with a single up the middle to bring in a third run in the frame. With two outs in a pinch-hitting spot, Jake Jansen picked up his first career at-bat and drove in a run with an RBI single to left.
 
"It's always special when you get your first college hit," Mau said. "Jake did a great job with two strikes. We're excited to see him grab that hit and grab us an RBI."
 
Longwood returns to the field Tuesday for a midweek game at nationally-ranked Virginia. First pitch for Longwood at Virginia is set for 4 p.m. and can be viewed on the ACC Network Extra.

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