BOX SCORE

Rock Hill, SC - Winthrop (6-0) held on for a 4-3 victory over Wagner (0-2) in non-conference baseball action at the Winthrop ballpark. The Seahawks loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth inning but could not convert while losing their second-straight one-run decision to the Eagles out of the powerful Big South Conference.

Sophomore Ryan Van Spronsen (Brantford, Ontario / Assumption College) was solid in defeat, allowing four runs, all of which came on a second-inning grand slam, five hits and four walks while recording four strikeouts over 5.2 innings. The Canadian native was sharp, facing the minimum in four of his five full frames while notching three 1-2-3 innings in his first outing of the spring.

Winthrop struck for their four runs in the second inning. After Van Spronsen retired the first two hitters, the Eagles loaded the bases with two walks a single and Adam Gliebe made him pay with a grand slam home run to left field.

Wagner finally got to Eagles starter RHP Robert Lake in the top of the fifth inning. Junior Jon Lucas (Hackettstown, NJ / Hackettstown) led off with a double to left center. Later with two outs, Gaby Ramirez (San Juan, Puerto Rico / Perkiomen (PA) cut the deficit to 4-1, driving in Lucas from third with a single.

The Seahawks trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the sixth inning with another two-out rally. Junior Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) singled to right field before classmate Vin Avella (Matawan, NJ / CBA) blasted his first home run of the year, a two-run shot to left field.

Winthrop threatened to add to the lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out. Van Spronsen struck out Chas Crane before junior RHP Ian Karlsson (Brooklyn, NY / Xaverian) entered from the bullpen and coaxed an inning-ending pop-up.

Both offenses quieted from that point until the top of the ninth. Avella struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch. Lucas then singled to right field on a 0-2 pitch before junior Brian Martutartus (Carlsbad, CA / La Costa Canyon) drew a walk, loading up the bases. Winthrop closer Tyler Mizenko, a preseason All-America selection, derailed the Wagner rally, inducing a game-ending 1-2-3 double-play off the bat of pinch hitter Michael Annunziata (Fr., Manorville, NY / Eastport-South Manor).

Lake improved to 2-0, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk over 7.1 innings to pick up the victory. Mizenko earned the save, striking out one in two-thirds of an inning while yielding a hit and a walk. Van Spronsen suffered the tough-luck loss in falling to 0-1. Karlsson was solid in relief, striking out one over 2.1 scoreless frames.

Lucas went 2-4 with a double while Avella hit a two-run home run, pacing a six-hit Wagner attack.

The teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday, February 28 at 1:00 pm. Rutgers transfer RHP Dale Hering (Montgomery, NJ / Belle Mead) will toe the mound in his Seahawk debut.