The Eagles (36-18) will play Louisville (30-22) in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. today, a familiar position. Winthrop also dropped its NCAA opener last year before winning two straight games, eventually falling to the Volunteers in the championship round.

A win over the Cardinals will put Winthrop in another elimination game immediately after. The Eagles would have to play the loser of No. 18 Virginia Tech and Tennessee, who play at noon today.

The Eagles had the bases loaded in the sixth inning but couldn't take advantage of it. After Jo-Lynn Smith walked to fill the paths, Lenny Stoddart was caught looking at a third strike.

The Vols (48-14) immediately exploited it.

Tonya Callahan was intentionally walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth and Shannon Doepking ripped Cari Wooldridge (16-10) for a two-run homer. Tiffany Huff walked and went to second on a groundout before Erinn Webb doubled to put Huff at third.

Izzy Trottier relieved Wooldridge and Danielle Pieroni grounded to third. The relay throw to first was mishandled by Mallory Hogan, letting Huff score and making it 3-0.

Megan Rhodes (21-9), who relieved Ashton Ward in the third inning, got Lauren Levin to pop out and Sarah Magee to fly out. Rhodes notched her 10th and final strikeout on pinch-hitter Veronica Berrie, settling the game.

Magee got the Eagles' only hit, a leadoff single in the third. A passed ball and a wild pitch got Magee to third with one out, but Rhodes came in and ended the rally.

Rhodes struck out Lisa Kingsmore looking and got a groundout from Stephanie Reid in the third. She whiffed the side in the fourth and fifth innings and Winthrop couldn't touch her until the sixth.

Wooldridge battled out of trouble in every inning until Doepking went deep. The two-time defending Big South Conference tournament MVP only gave up five hits but walked six batters, striking out two.

Tennessee 3

Winthrop 0