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ATHENS, GA— It was an impressive opening to the 2014 season for the Winthrop softball team as it defeated James Madison 11-4 in its opener before falling on a walk-off error at #21/23 Georgia 1-0, Friday afternoon at the Red and Black Showcase hosted by Georgia.

Winthrop (1-1) will be back in action on Saturday at 10 a.m. when it takes on James Madison again and will then face North Texas at 5:30 p.m. JMU falls to 0-2 on the year while Georgia is 1-0, but has another game to play later Friday evening.

The game was scoreless heading to the bottom of the seventh inning when Kaylee Puailoa led off with a double down the left field line on an 0-2 count. Sarah Allen responded by striking out Kati Browne for the first out, but Anna Swafford squeezed one through the left side to put runners at the corners. McKenzi Corn was able to field the ball quickly, holding Puailoa at third. That set the stage for Kaylee Williams as she hit the ball to third on the first pitch, but Kelsey Ritter bobbled the ball, allowing Puailoa to score on the error.

"Sarah threw the ball terrific today," said Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke. "I was really proud how she threw. Our defense today was unbelievable and we turned four double-plays. The first game we hit the ball hard and drove in runs when we had to. We went down to JMU early and responded. That's how you get better. When you get hit you answer back and we did."

Both Allen and Georgia's Geri Ann Glasco spent six innings in a duel as each worked out of couple of jams and didn't allow a run and just three combined hits.

Allen tossed 6.1 innings allowing the one unearned run on four hits with five walks and two strikeouts as she falls to 0-1. Glasco, a 2013 NFCA 3^rd Team All-America Selection and the Co-Freshman of the Year in the SEC, tossed six innings allowing two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.

The Eagles threatened first as they loaded the bases in the top of the fourth. It happened with two outs as Corn walked to get things going followed by a walk by Andrea. Leah Young put the ball in play and it paid off as she reached on a fielder's choice as the Bulldogs defense tried to get one of the advancing runners but everyone was safe. Glasco did get out of the inning as White grounded out to third.

Georgia put its first runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth as Puailoa walked to lead off and then Adele Harrison pinch-ran for Puailoa and stole second as Browne struck out on a hit-and-run. Swafford then walked to put runners at first and second with one out and then the runners moved over a base as Allen got Maeve McGuire to ground out to second. The threat ended as Niaja Griffin grounded out to Allen.

In the bottom of the sixth the Bulldogs had another opportunity as Paige Wilson singled with one out and then moved to second on a wild pitch. After intentionally walking Glasco, Allen got Tina losefa to hit into a double-play to end the inning.

Winthrop had a chance in the top of the 7^th as Alex White led off with a single and was replaced on the base by pinch-runner freshman Paige Haley. At this point the Bulldogs turned to Chelsea Wilkinson to get them through the inning unscathed. Allen stepped up with a chance to move Haley or drive her in but struck out swinging. Haley moved to second on a passed ball and then Wilkinson struck out Maddie Antone to end the inning.

The Eagles used two big innings in their seven-run victory over JMU. Trailing 2-0 heading into the top of the fifth, Haley got things started with a single to center, her first collegiate hit. Kim Ryder followed with an 0-2 single down the right field line to put runners at first and second. Zharne Glover stepped up and sacrificed the runners over, putting them both in scoring position. Two batters later, Corn singled to the pitcher that plated Haley and moved Ryder to third. Corn proceeded to steal second and then Mel Andrea came through with a two-run single up the middle for a 3-2 lead. White made it 4-2 when she doubled to right, scoring Andrea from second.

The Dukes pulled within a run immediately in the bottom of the fifth as Hannah Hayes led off the inning with a double to center and the came around to score on a Mimi Morris single to second. So the Eagles responded with two more runs in the sixth for a 6-3 lead and then opened up the game in the seventh inning with five runs. In the seventh, the big hits came off the bats of Glover and Naomi Stevens with one out. Glover delivered a two-run triple to left center that scored Haley and Ryder. That was followed by a Stevens two-run home run to left to make it 11-4.

In the third inning, JMU took a 2-0 lead as Erica Field tripled and scored on a throwing error. Field drove in Morris, who reached on a bunt single, and then scored on the error.

Junior Sutton Watson tossed a complete game as she allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Her counterpart Heather Kiefer allowed six runs 12 hits with no walks and six strikeouts in 5.2 innings as she suffered the loss.

Andrea, White, and Corn all finished with three hits on the day. Corn tied her career-high RBI as she drove in three against JMU. Glover and Stevens each finished with two RBI on the day while Ryder scored three times, a career-high for a single-game.

"That's one of our best opening days ever," added Cooke. "The players played their hearts out today."