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BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Winthrop used a four-run seventh to top Campbell 8-5 in the Big South Championship opener, presented by Hardee's and Enterprise Rent A Car, for both teams Tuesday at John Henry Moss Stadium.
The 3rd-seeded Eagles (39-17) won their 14th game in a row over a Big South opponent, led by Tyler Asbill's three RBI to top No. 6 Campbell (31-24).
Asbill went 2-for-4, also scoring a run, knocking in runs in the third, seventh and eighth. A Brad Kaczka RBI double followed by a two-run double from Anthony Paulsen gave Winthrop a 7-5 lead in the seventh after Campbell led 5-3.
Sam Kmiec (6-4) picked up the win for the Eagles, going seven innings with five runs, all earned, on 12 hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Travis Shelley grabbed the save, his fourth, surrendering two hits in two innings with a strikeout and a walk.
Heath Bowers (8-5) was charged with the loss for Campbell, allowing six runs, five earned, on 11 hits with two punchouts in six frames. Bobby Thorson allowed two runs on four hits with a strikeout in an inning. Sam Rector also worked a perfect eighth.
Campbell built a 5-2 lead after six, getting on the board in the second on Brian Taylor's sacrifice fly. A two-run third with RBI from Kyle Leady and Seth LaRue made it 3-1 Camels before Asbill's RBI groundout in the bottom of the inning.
Austin Beard notched a RBI single in the fourth and one of Cedric Mullins' three doubles on the day drove in another run in the sixth to give CU a 5-2 advantage.
Down 8-5 in the ninth, Campbell loaded the bases with two out, but a fly ball ended the rally.
Kaczka went 3-for-4 in the win for WU, adding a RBI and a run, while Kyle Edwards scored twice, going 2-for-3.
Eight Camels picked up hits on the day, with Mullins leading the way. The junior went 3-for-4 with three doubles, a RBI and a run scored. Steven Leonard, Cole Hallum, Seth LaRue and Austin Beard all posted two-hit days in the loss.
The Eagles will take on No. 2 Coastal Carolina tomorrow at 4:30 p.m., who topped No. 7 Charleston Southern 10-0 in game one of the tournament. The Camels will face CSU at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
