Preview: Citadel Bulldogs at Winthrop Eagles

ROCK HILL, S.C. (Interstat) — The Winthrop Eagles, riding a strong 22-10 season record, will host the Citadel Bulldogs in a midweek non-conference matchup Wednesday at Winthrop Ballpark.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures near 67 degrees.

The Eagles enter having won two of their last three, including a 6-4 victory over Western Carolina on Friday, but are coming off a 7-6 walk-off loss to the Catamounts on Saturday. In that game, shortstop Chazz Grossington drove in two runs.

Winthrop’s bullpen will be a key factor, with Randy Guzman emerging as a versatile arm. The right-hander has logged 4 1/3 innings in two of his last four outings, including a 4 1/3-inning, two-run relief appearance in Saturday’s loss. His season has been a mix of high-strikeout performances and occasional struggles with command.

The Citadel (14-16) looks to rebound after dropping the series finale to Longwood 5-1 on Saturday. The Bulldogs took two of three from the Lancers last week but have lost four of their last six overall.

A bright spot in Saturday’s loss was reliever Riley Ballard, who struck out four over two hitless innings. Ballard has shown swing-and-miss stuff this season, registering four strikeouts in an outing twice in his last four appearances, but has also been prone to allowing runs in bunches.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, this contest projects as a high-scoring affair, with a predicted final of Winthrop 7, Citadel 6.

Following Wednesday’s game, Winthrop opens a Big South Conference series at Presbyterian on Friday. The Bulldogs begin a Southern Conference road series at Wofford on Friday.