Winthrop baseball rallies in eighth inning, downs Davidson

The Winthrop baseball team used a four-run eighth inning rally to push past Davidson 6-3 on Tuesday night.

With the win, the Eagles improve to 19-10 while the Wildcats drop to 13-10.

Travis Shelley moved to 2-0 on the year, holding Davidson to just one hit in 1 2/3 innings. After starter Zach Sightler gave up three runs on three hits in 2 2/3 innings, relievers Freddie Sultan, Michael Green and Riley Arnone allowed just five hits in 4 2/3 innings. Cody White took the loss, surrendering three runs on one hit in the eighth inning.

The Wildcats took a 3-0 lead in the third inning after not registering a hit in the first two innings. Back to back doubles by Nathan Becker and Ben Arkin put up the first run for the Wildcats before Sam Foy homered to right field to drive home two more.

Winthrop chipped away at the Davidson lead, scoring a run in both the sixth and seventh innings. Tyler Asbill and Mitch Spires both singled to lead off the sixth and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Asbill put the Eagles on the board, coming home as Anthony Paulsen grounded out.

Babe Thomas pulled the Eagles within one, crossing the plate as Clay Altman grounded out after tripling in the seventh.

With one out in the eighth, Spires walked and moved to third on back to back wild pitches. Paulsen then walked before Roger Gonzalez hit a single through the left side to score Spires and advance Paulsen to third. Brad Kaczka walked to load the bases before Jace Whitley singled up the middle to bring home Paulsen and Gonzalez while Kaczka advanced to third on the throw home. Kaczka scored the final run on a single to right field by Thomas.

The Eagles return to conference action as they play host to High Point in a three-game series beginning on Thursday night at The Winthrop Ballpark.

This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 10:10 PM with the headline "Winthrop baseball rallies in eighth inning, downs Davidson."