ROCK HILL, S.C. (Interstat) — Jack McMullan drove in six runs with a home run and a double, leading Longwood to an 8-2 victory over Winthrop on Thursday night at Winthrop Ballpark.

The Lancers improved to 29-22 overall and 1-0 in the Big South series opener. The Eagles fell to 31-22.

McMullan, the Longwood catcher, went 2 for 4 with a two-run homer in the fourth inning and a three-run double in the sixth. His six RBIs matched a season high and broke open what had been a tight contest after Winthrop had tied the game in the third.

Longwood starter Brady Hoover worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits with one strikeout. Jackson Garland relieved Hoover with one out in the fourth and threw 4 1/3 hitless innings, striking out four. JR Fordham pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts.

Winthrop starter Brayden Gilley took the loss, yielding six earned runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. Garrett Byrd worked 3 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on three hits with two strikeouts.

The Lancers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning without a hit. Tré Keels walked, stole second and third, then scored when Winthrop third baseman Kevin Grossington committed a throwing error on McMullan’s ground ball.

Winthrop answered in the bottom of the third. After a single by Nathan Norton and a hit batter, Jaylen Hernandez singled to center field, scoring Norton and Matt Natividad. A fielding error by Keels in center allowed Hernandez to advance to second, but the Eagles could not add to the lead as the inning ended on a groundout.

Longwood broke the tie in the fourth. With one out, Ben Pulliam singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Keels singled to left to score Pulliam, then McMullan crushed a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence for a two-run homer, putting Longwood ahead 4-2.

The Lancers put the game away in the sixth. With two on and one out, Keels walked to load the bases. McMullan doubled down the left-field line, clearing the bases and extending the lead to 7-2. He later scored on a groundout in the eighth after Pulliam doubled and Keels sacrificed him to third.

Winthrop’s offense managed only four hits, two by Hernandez. Norton had the only other Eagle hit. The Winthrop bullpen held Longwood to one earned run over the final 3 2/3 innings, but the early deficit proved too large.

Longwood pitchers combined to allow just one earned run and struck out seven.

The series continues Friday and Saturday at Winthrop Ballpark.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Winthrop 5, Longwood 4, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Winthrop a 68.50 percent probability of winning.