ROCK HILL, S.C. — Third-seeded Winthrop scored six unanswered runs in the final three innings to overcome an early advantage for the No. 2 Longwood softball team for an 8-3 victory in the opening game of the 2024 Big South Championship at Terry Field on Thursday.
The Eagles, who sneaked into the tournament field on the final day of the regular season with a 7-0 defeat of top-seed USC Upstate, benefited from two from Longwood errors and four unearned runs in the win. Winthrop (24-27) moves on for a winner's-bracket game Friday at 2 p.m., against the winner of the Spartans and Charleston Southern. The Lancers will face the loser of that contest at 11 a.m.
"We have extraordinary women of great resolve and grit," said Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown. "The next few days will show us what we are made of. One pitch at a time."
Graduate shortstop Lauren Taylor took a 2-2 pitch down the line in left field for a three-run home run, erasing a 2-0 Winthrop lead, in the bottom of the third. Avery Drake singled to left with one out in the frame before Lauren Fox beat an chopper to third for an infield hit, setting the stage for Taylor's seventh homer of the season.
The Eagles tied the game in the fifth as Paige Rivas singled to third and Grayson Buckner came home as Sophia Knock's throw at first back across the diamond to third was wild. Ashton VanHouse followed with a double to left center that plated Rivas for a 4-3 lead.
Winthrop added three in the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, Taylor fielded a ground ball at short and elected to throw to plate for a force out. The throw was off line, allowing Peyton Rivas and Ashley Wood to score on the play.
VanHouse then lifted a fly ball to left for a sacrifice fly and a 7-3 advantage.
Megan Powell hit a solo homer in the top of the seventh for the Eagles to account for the final margin.
Reese Basinger (11-14) pitched four innings of three-hit shutout ball to earn the win the circle. Powell started for the Eagles, surrendering three earned runs on three hits and two walks. She stuck out five.
Er'ron Burton (1-12) took over for freshman lefty Cierra Gawryluk with two out in the third and absorbed the loss. She gave up six hits and six earned runs (two earned) with three walks and three strikeouts.
Paige Rivas and Ansley Lee posted two hits each to pace Winthrop's eight-hit offense. VanHouse drove in a pair of runs. For the Lancers, Drake went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Fox, Taylor and Kayley DeVivi had hits.
