BOX SCORE

Rock Hill, SC - Winthrop collected its fifth-straight victory to start the year with a 3-2 walk-off win over Wagner in the Seahawks' season-opener at the Winthrop Ballpark.

In defeat, reigning NEC Pitcher of the Year Matt Watson (Sr., Howell, NJ / Howell) was outstanding, firing 8.0 innings of two-run ball while striking out four and allowing just four hits and two walks.

Classmate Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) provided the offense, going 3-4 with two RBI while pacing a nine-hit attack for the Green & White.

After escaping the most recent Northeast snowstorm just to make it to the Palmetto State, the Green & White struck first in the top of the first with an unearned run. Junior Jared Gruccio (Landisville, NJ / Buena Regional) reached on a one-out error and classmate Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) pushed him to second with a single to center field. The pair then executed a successful double steal before Avella brought Gruccio home with a RBI groundout.

The Eagles got the run back in the bottom of the second. With Watson facing a first-and-third no out situation, the crafty right-hander coaxed a double-play grounder while Chas Crane scored on the play, evening the score at 1-1.

Wagner immediately got the run back in the top of the third. Senior Damian Csakai (Freehold Township, NJ / Freehold Township) and Gruccio each singled with one out. Winthrop starter Matteo D'Angelo briefly evaded the Seahawk offense by striking out Boyd but Avella made him pay with a first-pitch RBI-single to right center, plating Csakai.

Winthrop tied it up at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a Matt Pierpont RBI single.

After that Watson settled down and was basically unhittable over the next four frames, allowing just one single and three balls to leave the infield. Unfortunately, for the Green & White, D'Angelo matched Watson over his final 3.1 innings, facing just one batter over the minimum.

In the top of the eighth, Wagner had a chance to dent the scoreboard as the Seahawks put together a two-out rally. Avella and pinch hitter Tommy Higgins (Port Monmouth, NJ / Red Bank Catholic) each singled before junior Brian Martutartus (Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon) walked, loading up the bases. Winthrop reliever Greg Hough ended the threat by striking out Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown).

Watson was lifted in the bottom of the ninth and the Eagles took advantage. Matt Thielepape led off with a double off Lucas, who moved from third base to the mound. After advancing to third on a balk, reliever junior David Rees (Staten Island, NY / Xavier) struck out Crane before intentionally walking the next two batters while setting up a potential double play. Adam Gliebe greeted reliever junior RHP Ian Karlsson (Brooklyn, NY / Xaverian) with a game-winning single to left field, plating Thielepape.

Tommy Lawrence (1-0) retired both batters he faced, picking up the win while Lucas (0-1) took the look. Thielepipe and Pierpont each recorded two hits, leading the Eagles, who managed just six hits against the defending NEC ERA champion Seahawks.

The teams will meet up tomorrow at 1:00 pm with sophomore RHP Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) slated to take the mound for the Green & White.