Winthrop softball beats Dayton 7-2

ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop softball posted a six-run fifth inning highlighted by a Kelsey Ritter pinch-hit grand slam to top Dayton 7-2, on the last day of the Combat Invitational.

The Eagles (6-8) and Flyers (4-1) entered the top half of the fifth inning knotted up at 0-0. Mel Andrea led off with a pinch-hit double and Teja Durante followed with a single to centerfield. Durante then stole second before McKenzi Corn drove in the first two runs of the day with a double to left center. Corn was then thrown out at third when Chelsey Schoenfeldt reached on a fielder’s choice. Kathryn Eberlin hit a double off the wall in left center and Alex White reached on a walk to set the stage for Ritter’s grand slam over the left field wall to cap off the six-run inning.

“We got some real timely hits at the plate today” said Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke. “We had a good approach today which is evident of the 11 hits. Ritter’s hit was big for us and Sutton Watson had a good game going for seven innings.”

Winthrop plated its seventh run of the game in the sixth inning when Durante was driven in by Schoenfeldt after leading off the inning with a double to right center.

Dayton plated its only two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a Dana Trotta two-run home run which drove in Kennedy Haynes who led off the inning with a single.

Watson earned the win, going seven innings to improve her record to 6-3 on the year. Watson allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out eight batters and surrendering only one walk.

The Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday when they open up conference play with a double-header against conference newcomer Longwood at 5:00 p.m. at Terry Field.