ROCK HILL, SC - Freshman right handed pitcher Kevin Slowey dazzled while the Eagle hitters pounded three La Salle pitchers in a 13-6 win over the Explorers in Monday night baseball action from The Winthrop Ballpark in Rock Hill, SC.
Slowey (1-1), a freshman from Pittsburgh, PA, struck out nine and allowed just two hits in six innings of relief work to pick up the win for the Eagles. It was his first win of the season.
Slowey, who entered the game in the third inning, came in with two runners on and nobody out with the game tied at six. John Snyder hit an infield single off Slowey to load the bases with nobody out.
After Snyder’s hit, Slowey struck out the next three La Salle batters to end their threat in the third. He gave up just one hit over the next six innings after Snyder’s hit.
The Eagles responded with four runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good. Daniel Carte walked to lead off the inning and scored on a double by Jacob Dempsey to give the Eagles a 7-6 lead.
Dempsey advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a double by David Scoggin. Chris Leroux and Matt Repec both walked to load the bases, before Kyle Roberson drove in the Eagles’ third run of the inning on a fielder’s choice to give Winthrop a three-run lead. Matt Matkovich walked to load the bases again before Grant Neidenfeuhr walked to drive in Leroux and put the Eagles up 10-6.
Winthrop added two more in the sixth and another run in the eighth en route to the 13-6 win.
"Slowey was the key to the game," head coach Joe Hudak said. "he came in and gave us a chance to get back in the game.
"I was also real pleased with the way we swung the bats. When you play a club that you feel you should beat, and they score four in the first, it’s important that you don’t let them hang around and get some confidence and let them think that they have a chance to beat you. We came right back with a four spot in the bottom of the first to tie the game."
Neidenfeuhr led the Eagles offensively, going two for three with four RBI and one run scored. He hit a three-run home run in the first inning, his first of the season.
Scoggin and Matkovich each had three hits a piece for the Eagles as well.
Tonight’s win over La Salle improved the Eagles’ record to 9-2 and ended the season opening home stand on a good note. The Eagles have now won five straight games.
Winthrop begins a five-game road swing Tuesday with a 4 p.m. contest at in-state rival Clemson.
