The Presbyterian College softball team secured a 5-3 victory against Winthrop on March 14, winning their first Big South Conference series of the season at home in Clinton, South Carolina. Senior catcher Molly Mattas hit a two-run home run in the third inning to help lead the Blue Hose to the win in the rubber match.
This win marks an important start for Presbyterian in conference play, as it is their first Big South series victory since last spring when they took two out of three games from USC Upstate. The team managed ten hits during Sunday’s game and created enough scoring opportunities to clinch the series.
Pitcher Peyton Duncan started for Presbyterian and threw five strong innings, earning her 28th career victory. Avery Robinson came in for a two-inning save, striking out the potential tying run to end the game. Robinson remains the only pitcher in the Big South with an earned run average below 3.00 and did not allow a run over five total innings during Presbyterian’s two wins against Winthrop.
Mattas was joined by Morgan Farthing and Gracie DeCuir with multi-hit performances in Sunday’s finale. Hali Duke and Cierra Grice continued their hitting streak, having recorded at least one hit between them in twenty consecutive games over more than three weeks.
Winthrop’s Annelisa Winebarger hit two solo home runs during the game, but Presbyterian responded with key hits from Grice and Mattas to take control early. Audrey Burton added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
Looking ahead, Presbyterian will play Wofford next Wednesday on ESPN+, seeking to avenge a previous loss earlier this season.
