Charleston Southern rallies to beat Winthrop, 5-4, in baseball

Chas. Southern 5, Winthrop 4
Charleston Southern rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to defeat Winthrop, 5-4, in baseball Friday at CSU Ballpark.

Winthrop (13-31, 6-10 Big South) scored four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by Chas Crane, against Ryan Gunther. But Gunther settled down, going six solid innings, as the Bucs (17-28, 8-8) rallied late.

CSU’s Chase Shelton and Walt Quattlebaum hit back-to-back homers in the seventh to cut the lead in half before taking the lead in the eighth.

With runners on the corners and one out, Alex Tomasovich hit a grounder to second that was misplayed for an error. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Quattlebaum struck out on a pitch in the dirt. John Faircloth got hung up between third and home, but the throw from the catcher bounced into left field, allowing Faircloth and Tomasovich to score to make it 5-4.

Austin Weekley (2-5) got the win in relief. Corey Deighan pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his fifth save.

Shelton was 3 for 3, while Blake Hunt was 2 for 3 for the Bucs, who host Winthrop at 2 p.m. today.