Longwood downs Eagles in Big South baseball tourney opening round

The Eagles’ baseball squad dropped an 8-6 decision in their opening round Big South Conference Tournament game against Longwood on Tuesday at Lexington County Baseball Stadium.

With the loss, Winthrop is now 28-26 on the season, while Longwood is now 31-25. The Eagles will face the loser of Game 1, No. 2 seed High Point Wednesday at 9:30 a.m, while the Lancers face the winner of Game 1, No. 7 seed Liberty Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

The Eagles’ starting pitcher Sam Kmiec began the afternoon with three straight scoreless innings before giving up the lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Lancers’ started the rally with the leadoff hitter Michael Osinski reaching on a single up the middle. Osinski was sent home on a Drew Kitson double to left field. Brandon Harvell later hit a double of his own to score Kitson. After C.J. Roth was walked, Roth and Harvell scored on a Sammy Miller single to left field to give Longwood the 4-0 lead.

Longwood’s Alex Lewis led the fifth inning off with a solo shot to left field to up the margin to 5-0.

In the sixth, the Lancers’ Miller reached with a single to left field for his second hit on the day and later scored on a throwing error.

The Eagles finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the 7th scoring two runs on three hits and one Longwood error. Kyle Edwards and Tyler Asbill began the rally with back to back singles. Brandon Fite then advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher and Edwards scored on a throwing error. Anthony Paulsen later hit a sacrifice fly to score Asbill cutting the Lancer lead to 6-2.

After the bases were loaded in the bottom of the 7th, Longwood’s Carlos Garrido was walked followed by a balk from reliever Freddie Sultan to stretch their lead to 8-2.

Winthrop continued to battle in eighth, loading the bases with no outs. Edwards then knocked in Babe Thomas with a sacrifice fly to center field. Asbill then doubled to right field to score Jace Whitley and Thomas to reduce the Longwood lead to 8-5.

Roger Gonzalez led the ninth off with a long ball to right field to cut the lead to 8-6; however, the Eagles rally fell short.

All-Big South first team pitcher Travis Burnette was lights out for the Lancers pitching 6 1/3 innings only allowing two runs while fanning four batters on his way to earning the victory. Kmiec received the loss, allowing six earned runs in six innings.

Winthrop will look to stay alive when they face elimination Wednesday against No. 2 seed High Point at 9:30 a.m.

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 9:49 PM with the headline "Longwood downs Eagles in Big South baseball tourney opening round."