The Johnsonian

            The Winthrop softball team traveled to the University of Georgia to compete in the Georgia Softball classic this past weekend.           

            The Eagles dropped their first two games of the Georgia Softball Classic as it fell 3-0 to Marshall and 7-3 to 12th ranked Georgia.

            The Eagles fell behind 6-0 against the Bulldogs, but battled back for three runs in the sixth inning. Senior infielder Stephanie Turney and junior catcher Jenny Scrymgeour had back-to-back RBI singles and the lead was cut to 6-3 by the end of the inning, but the Eagles were unable to amass any more offense and lost 7-3.

            In the first game of the day, Winthrop had several opportunities to get on the scoreboard, but just couldn't get the timely hits it needed as it fell 3-0 to Marshall.

            Senior pitcher Shahna Ashard tossed a complete game allowing two earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks in the loss.

            The Eagles ended their four-game losing streak Saturday as they defeated Marshall 3-0 and Appalachian State 10-6 on day two of the Georgia Softball Classic.

            Sophomore shortstop Stephanie Reid and freshman outfielder Tessa Thomas each collected four hits, three RBI and a home run in the victory over Appalachian State. Thomas connected on her first collegiate homer in the second inning to put the Eagles up 2-0. Reid's two-run shot in the seventh inning iced the game for Winthrop.

            After the Eagles struck for four runs in the fifth inning behind an RBI single from freshman outfielder Lisa Kingsmore and a two-RBI single from Scrymgeour, Appalachian State answered with four runs in the bottom half. Ashard, who started the game, couldn't finish the inning and was relieved by sophomore Izzy Trottier. Trottier allowed just one run on two hits over two innings with two strikeouts to earn her second save of the day. Ashard allowed five runs on six hits, but still got the victory and improved to 2-2 on the year.

            "We hit the ball hard very hard in the morning versus Marshall and we just continued to do so against Appalachian State," Mark Cooke, head coach, said. "The conditions were much tougher in the second game after the rainfall and Shahna had a bit of trouble holding on to the ball. But Izzy was able to pick up two saves for us today as she did everything she needed to do to get outs."

            Winthrop bounced back from its 3-0 loss to Marshall on Friday to defeat the Thundering Herd 2-1 Saturday morning.

            Winthrop scored first as sophomore infielder Sarah Magee hit her first collegiate homerun in the third inning to left center. In the fifth inning Winthrop struck again to take a 2-0 lead when junior infielder Lauren Blaser's sacrifice fly to right field scored Scrymgeour.

            The Eagles pitching closed the door. Freshman Julie Harvey earned her first win on the mound as she allowed one run on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Trottier relieved Harvey after the fifth and tossed two scoreless and hitless innings to earn her first save of the season.

         Winthrop split on the final day of the Georgia Softball Classic as it defeated Appalachian State 1-0 and fell to 12th ranked Georgia 13-2, Sunday afternoon.

         In the first game of the day, Harvey just missed her first collegiate no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Appalachian State. Harvey allowed a lead-off single in the top of the seventh inning by Brittany Gaston. Harvey struck out Kasey Motsinger and got Diana Cook to pop out to first base to end the game and earn her second straight victory on the mound. She finished with five strikeouts and three walks.

            "Julie pitched a great game today and just missed a no-hitter," Cooke said. "Julie is one of our young players that is stepping up for us."

            In the game against 12th ranked Georgia, Ashard struggled through the first two innings and the Bulldogs cruised.

            Ashard allowed seven earned runs on five hits and three walks in an inning and a third.

            Winthrop got on the scoreboard in the third inning as Hilary Peacock singled to center to score Kingsmore and Thomas, who both singled to reach base.

            "Despite getting beat 13-2 by Georgia, I thought we hit the ball hard and put pressure on but we just couldn't get them out," said Cooke. "We scored five runs on them in two game and that is more than we've scored against them in four years. Coming out of here 3-3 on the weekend is pretty good against the teams we faced.

            "I'm excited about where this team is headed because I feel we've improved with each game. Thomas and Kingsmore have really played well for us as freshmen."

            Winthrop is now 3-5 overall on the season and will open up its home schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. vs. Gardner-Webb.

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