May 4, 2005

Box Score

Rock Hill, SC - Right fielder Daniel Carte went 4-5 including a double and a solo homer as he tallied three RBI and scored three runs to give Winthrop a 13-6 victory over The Citadel in collegiate baseball action at Winthrop Ballpark Wednesday night.

Winthrop (32-14) took an early 1-0 lead in the first as Carte blasted a 1-0 offering over the left field wall for a solo shot, his eleventh of the year. In the second, catcher Alan Robbins led off with a double to left for the Eagles and then scored on a RBI-groundout to first off the bat of designated hitter Ben Ehrlich to make it 2-0.

The Citadel (16-29) took the lead in the third as left fielder Matt Covington and third baseman Chris Ard hit back-to-back singles to left with one out. Freshman first baseman Chris Swauger then smashed a 1-1 pitch to center for his sixth homer of the season, giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 advantage.

Carte tied it up in the third for the Eagles as he smacked a RBI-double off the right field wall to plate second baseman Chris Carrara. Left fielder Kyle Roberson then gave Winthrop a 5-3 edge as he sailed a two-run dinger over the centerfield wall with two outs in the inning.

Bulldog center fielder Chance Smith beat out a throw from shortstop Matt Repec for a single to give The Citadel a base runner in the fourth. Covington earned a walk on four straight while third baseman Chris Ard looped one into center to bring Smith home and cut the Eagle lead to one. With Swauger due up and two on with one out, the Bulldogs and Eagles sustained a 37 minute sun delay. When the game resumed, Winthrop ended The Citadel threat as Swauger grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Eagles tacked on three more runs in their half of the fourth as Bulldog reliever Ken Egleton issued a free pass to first baseman Heath Rollins with the bases loaded, sending Repec across the dish. Michael McLaurin then came to the rubber for The Citadel and was called on a balk before throwing a pitch to send another run home. Carte tallied his third RBI of the night as he drove home Carrara with a single through the left side. Winthrop then added one more in the fifth on a sac fly to left center off the bat of Repec to make the score 9-4.

Winthrop extended the lead to 13-4, scoring two in the sixth and seventh. Roberson doubled off the left field wall to plate Rollins and Carte, both of which reached on a single to short. Carraras then blasted a two-run shot over the left field wall.

The Citadel added one more to their effort in the eighth as center fielder Chance Smith drove a triple to the gap in left center and then trotted home on a RBI-single off the bat of Covington. In the ninth, the Bulldogs plated Swauger after Eagle third baseman Nick Bly mishandled a ball off the bat of shortstop Matt Matulia, making the final 13-6.

Bulldog starter Stephen Williams (1-1) suffered the loss as he tossed three frames, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out two. Eagle hurler Jason Terry improved his record to 1-0 as he went one inning in relief and gave up two hits.

The Citadel now returns home to host SoCon foe East Tennessee State for a three-game series beginning Friday, May 6 at 6 pm in Riley Park while Winthrop travels to play High Point on Saturday, May 7 at 3 pm.