The Winthrop University baseball team lost a close game to Gardner-Webb on April 26, falling 7-6 in extra innings at John Henry Moss Stadium. The Eagles’ offense was highlighted by three home runs, but the game ended with a walk-off single by Merik Carter for Gardner-Webb in the tenth inning.
This loss marks only the second series defeat of the season for Winthrop and is their first series loss to Gardner-Webb since 2021. The Eagles now hold a record of 28-16 overall and 11-4 in Big South Conference play, while Gardner-Webb moves to 20-24 overall and 8-10 in conference games.
Jaylen Hernandez led Winthrop with two hits, including a two-run home run and two runs batted in. Gabe Natividad contributed four hits and scored twice. Ethan Wilson added a two-run homer, while Colin Crowley hit a solo home run for the second consecutive day. Walker Brodt recorded six strikeouts over four and two-thirds innings pitched, allowing just one earned run on a season-high 65 pitches.
The Eagles managed to tie the game at six runs each when Natividad scored on Josh Skowronski’s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. However, Carter’s RBI single for Gardner-Webb secured their victory in the tenth frame.
Winthrop has maintained its streak of scoring at least six runs for two straight games despite this setback. The team will next face North Carolina A&T at home on Tuesday, April 28 at 6 p.m.
