Box Score
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SPARTANBURG, SC—Winthrop softball dropped its second straight game as it opened the Spartan Classic with a 2-0 loss to Furman, Friday afternoon.

Winthrop is now 3-7 on the season as it will be back in action on Saturday against the host USC Upstate at 1 p.m. and then take on Furman at 5 p.m.  With the victory, Furman improved to 2-5.

The only scoring in the game came in the top of the first inning as Winthrop starter Sutton Watson gave up a two-run home run with one out. Watson gave up a lead-off single and then got the next batter to ground out before Ambree Muller stepped up and took the 1-0 pitch over the fence in left center. Watson allowed a single to the next batter but over the next six and two-thirds she allowed one hit as she falls to 3-2 on the year.

Winthrop had six hits to Furman's four, but was unable to take advantage of its scoring opportunities. The Eagles left six runners stranded including two in the first and two in the third.

In the bottom of the first after falling behind 2-0, Winthrop's Paige Haley singled to right with one out. She moved to second two batters later when Sarah Allen singled to through the hole at short but the threat ended on a groundout to second by Alex White.

The Eagles left two stranded in the third as again Haley singled with one out, which was followed by a McKenzi Corn single up the middle. Allen struck out looking and then White grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.

In its last chance, Winthrop threatened in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a throwing error. With two outs, Kelsey Ritter reached on a throwing error and moved to second base. Leah Young came in to pinch-hit but struck out looking to end the game.

Watson tossed her fourth complete game of the year as she allowed the two runs on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Haley was the only Eagle with multiple hits as Zharne Glover, Corn, Allen and Mel Andrea each had singles.

Lauren Collier tossed a complete-game shutout for the Paladins as she didn't allow an Eagle to get further than second base and improved to 1-3 on the year. Collier allowed six hits, didn't issue a walk and had nine strikeouts.