Sunday, March 04, 2007

(Mar. 4, 2007) - Winthrop scored three runs over the first two innings, and Jason Franzblau threw a complete-game six hitter, as the Eagles snapped the Bucs' four-game winning streak, 5-2 at the Coca-Cola Classis Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles (10-7) took a 2-0 lead on a pair of first inning sacrifice flies off of freshman starter Drew Story (Jefferson City, Tenn.), snapping the Bucs' 20 consecutive scoreless inning streak.

Trailing 3-0 in the fourth, junior Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.) scored on senior Michael Courtney's (Knoxville, Tenn.) fielder's choice, cutting the lead to 3-1.

Russell came on home with the second ETSU run in the sixth, scoring on a two-out passed ball, and pulling the Bucs to within one at 3-2.

After retiring 13 consecutive batters the ETSU bullpen gave up two runs in the seventh inning, as Winthrop restored its two run advantage, and the Bucs never threatened offensively again.

Franzblau struck out six batters and walked none in his complete game effort, improving to 3-2 on the season.  Story surrendered three run in an inning-plus of work, dropping his second straight decision and falling to 1-2 on the year.

The Bucs return home for a pair of midweek games, taking on Western Carolina at 3 pm on Tuesday, March 6, and entertaining Appalachian State in their first home night game of the season Wednesday at 7 p.m. Both games are at Cardinal Park.