ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop baseball team went 1-2 this past weekend in contests against the San Diego State Aztecs and San Diego Toreros. Here is a weekly wrap-up of how things went for the Eagles.
Winthrop University
Overall Season Record: 1-2
Last Week: 1-2
Fri., W, Away vs. San Diego State, 14-9
Sat., L, Away vs. San Diego, 7-5
Sun., L, Away vs. San Diego State, 6-1
Next Week
Fri., Home* vs. Wagner, 4:00 p.m.
Sat., Home* vs. Kent State, 12:30 p.m.
Sat., Home* vs. Wagner, 4:00 p.m.
Sun., Home* vs. Kent State, 2:30 p.m.
* - Johnny Gill Memorial
Notes
In the opening weekend of the 2011 season, the Winthrop Eagles garnered a 1-2 record in its West Coast season opening series against the San Diego State Aztecs (Feb. 18 & 20) and San Diego Toreros (Feb. 19). The Eagles were victorious in their season opener 14-9 over the Aztecs, but then fell 7-5 to San Diego and 6-1 in the finale against San Diego State.
Winthrop posted a team batting average of .218 during the three-game weekend series, while opponents hit .368 against them. The Eagle pitching staff surrendered a team ERA of 6.84 in 25.0 innings pitched and opponents accumulated a 5.67 team ERA in 27.0 innings pitched. The pitching staff also gave up only seven walks in the three contests, with all three weekend starters giving up a combined two walks in 14.0 innings pitched.
Junior pitcher Tyler Mizenko made his third career start on Feb. 18 in Winthrop's 14-9 season-opening win at San Diego State. He made his first collegiate start last season in the season finale against Liberty and followed that with a start in the Big South Tournament against VMI. Redshirt-junior designated hitter Brett Thomas kicked off his career as an Eagle leading the squad with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with five RBI. In his first at-bat with Winthrop in the top of the first, Thomas placed a two-out three RBI double into the left center field gap to put the Eagles up 3-0. Senior catcher Eddie Rohan came close to matching the performance by Thomas as he went 2-for-4 hitting with four RBI and a team-high four runs scored. Sophomore first baseman Matt Lobacz and redshirt-junior outfielder Sean Sullivan also had one RBI apiece in the opener. In his first collegiate appearance as a Winthrop Eagle, redshirt-sophomore pitcher Mitchell Knox earned his first win tossing 2.0 innings of relief allowing one run on four hits, no walks and no strikeouts.
Winthrop gave up a two run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning on Feb. 19 to drop its first game of the season 7-5 to San Diego, which made an NCAA Regional appearance in 2010. The Toreros are also the defending West Coast Conference champions and preseason favorites to win the league as well. Facing former first round draft pick in freshman right-handed pitcher Dylan Covey, the Eagles tagged him for four runs on seven hits in 7.0 innings. Sullivan put Winthrop ahead 1-0 in the top of the second with his RBI double down the left field line scoring Lobacz. Redshirt-junior outfielder Cam Walters followed Sullivan two batters later with a two RBI single down the left field line putting the Eagles up 3-0. Sophomore outfielder Max Vogel also added an RBI against San Diego. Senior pitcher Robert Lake allowed just two runs in his first start of the season on nine hits, no walks and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work.
In the weekend finale against the Aztecs on Feb. 20, Winthrop managed just two hits and one run as it fell 6-1 to finish the West Coast trip with a 1-2 record. Thomas and freshman TJ Olesczuk recorded both hits for the Eagles, while senior second baseman Tyler Cook drove in the lone run with his RBI sacrifice fly out to right field in the top of the sixth inning. The base hit by Olesczuk was his first at Winthrop.
The Eagles will open their home schedule this weekend by hosting the Wagner Seahawks and Kent State Golden Flashes in the 2011 Johnny Gill Memorial. Winthrop will open Johnny Gill Memorial play at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25 against the Seahawks. Saturday will have the Eagles playing a doubleheader beginning at 12:30 p.m. against the Golden Flashes and 4 p.m. against Wagner. Winthrop will conclude its play in the Johnny Gill Memorial with a 2:30 p.m. matchup against Kent State on Sunday afternoon.
