The Citadel's walk-off double beats Winthrop baseball

Despite a four-run third inning, the Winthrop baseball team fell 6-5 to The Citadel on a walk off double on Wednesday night.

With the loss, the Eagles drop to 14-6 while the Bulldogs improved to 12-7.

Joey Strain took the loss for Winthrop, moving to 2-2 on the year while allowing two runs on three hits after coming in to close in the ninth inning. Brett Tompkins earned the win for The Citadel, giving up no hits in the ninth inning.

Roger Gonzalez led the Winthrop batters, going 4-5 at the plate with an RBI and scoring two runs.

The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Johnathan Stokes scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Connor Walsh.

Gonzalez tied the game up in the second inning, coming home on a double by Brad Kazcka after doubling.

After back to back outs to lead off the third inning, Anthony Paulsen hit an infield single. Mark Lowrie then walked and Paulsen scored on a double by Gonzalez that advanced Lowrie to third. After a pitching change, John Menken singled to left field to drive home Lowrie and Gonzalez. Menken advanced to second on the throw home, and was able to score as the throw to second went high into center field.

The Bulldogs answered back with back to back runs in the third inning. After loading the bases, Walsh walked and Stephen Windham reached on fielder’s choice to bring the score to 5-3.

After holding The Citadel to three hits in four innings, the Bulldogs pulled within one as Mike Deese scored on a throwing error by Kaczka in the bottom of the eighth.

The Bulldogs led off the ninth inning with a single by Austin Mapes, who advanced to second on a passed ball. Windham singled to score Mapes and tie the game before Drew Ellis doubled to bring home Windham and win the game.

The Eagles begin Big South play this weekend, hosting Gardner-Webb in three game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. at The Winthrop Ballpark.

This story was originally published March 18, 2015 at 8:45 PM with the headline "The Citadel's walk-off double beats Winthrop baseball."