Leathers Becomes All-Time Hit Leader

    ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop baseball team ended its three-game losing streak with a 3-2 non-conference victory over Western Carolina, Tuesday afternoon at the Winthrop Ballpark.

    Jason Terry pitched eight innings allowing two runs on 10 hits with one walk and four strikeouts to improve to 4-3 on the season.

    Winthrop (24-28) grabbed the early lead after an RBI double by Bennett Stapf, scoring Todd Leathers. Leathers hit a double down the line. With that hit he passed Jason Colson on the all-time hit list with 293 for his career.

    The Catamounts (31-19) tied it at 1-1 in the third on an RBI single up the middle by Todd Roper, scoring Dan Woodley. Winthrop took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Ben Thurmond scored on a John Neale single to left. Alex Gary scored on a fielder’s choice in the eighth to tie the game at 2-2. It looked as if the Eagles were going to turn a double-play, but Thurmond couldn’t get the ball out of the glove in time and Alan Beck was safe on the fielder’s choice.

    Leathers scored the winning run as Mark Schmidt hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center. Leathers reached on an error as shortstop Ryan Schade’s throw to first was off the mark.

    Brandon McDowell made his first collegiate start, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in seven innings of work. Alex Obert took the loss on the mound as he pitched to three batters in the eighth. Clint Ramsey and Woodley each finished with two hits to lead the Catamounts.

    Western Carolina will take on top-ranked Clemson at home on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Winthrop will wrap-up the regular season schedule with a three-game series against Radford at home. The first game will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. and then a double-header starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday.